Hearing you have ET can be overwhelming, upsetting and hard to understand.
It is important you know that:
There is hope
Most people with this disease can expect a normal or near normal life expectancy.
Research is advancing
Our understanding of this disease has progressed in recent years.
It’s nothing you did
You did not catch the disease from someone else and cannot pass it to your children.
You are not alone.
Know that the blood cancer community is here to support you every step of the way.
What happens next?
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Talking to family and friends
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Telling your children
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Speaking with your employer
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Preparing for appointments
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Understanding lab results
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Asking for a second opinion
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Coping with fear, anxiety and stress
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Taking care of your body
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Managing fatigue and cognitive challenges
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Understanding insurance and organizing finances
Experiences of others with essential thrombocythemia
Resources on ET
Essential Thrombocythemia
Learn about ET and how it is diagnosed, monitored and managed. Learn about a related disease (smoldering multiple myeloma).
Understanding clinical trials
Get an overview of clinical trials, understand them, how they are planned, evaluate benefits and risks of participating, address concerns and what to ask.
Types of blood cancer treatments
You or your loved one has been diagnosed with a type of blood cancer. Cancer treatment can be complex, with different types of treatment options available for some blood cancers. What are they and how do they work? This fact sheet will help you Learn about the different treatment options available, Understand each type of treatment and how it can help, Prepa…
Understanding Genetics
Genetics plays an important role in understanding cancer and treatments for cancers. What is genetics and how is it involved in cancer?
Shared Decision Making: Discussion tool for people with a blood cancer
You or your loved one has been diagnosed with a type of blood cancer. You will be making important decisions with your healthcare team.
Understanding essential thrombocythemia (ET): Diagnosis, treatments and follow-up care: MPN conference 2025
In this 1-hour webcast, Dr. Lynda Foltz, University of British Columbia, will review this type of myeloproliferative neoplasm (MPN): its diagnosis, treatment options, and aspects of follow-up care.) People with ET have too many platelets, a type of blood cell. Too many platelets can result in a blood clot (thrombosis) forming in a blood vessel.
All resources
Access all fact sheets, guides, podcast, videos and other resources to learn everything from disease symptoms, statistics and treatment options.