My husband was diagnosed with polysythemia vera about a year and a half ago.  One specialist told him to eat meat only once a week and stay away from foods high in minerals. He also told him that phlebotomies were the best course. The specialist he is going to now says that food has nothing to do with it.  He put him on one 500mg of hydroxyurea a day and an occasional phlebotomy when he thinks it is necessary.  My husband is an otherwise very healthy 71 year old who walks 5 miles a day.  Who do we listen to?  We are worried that hydroxyurea can cause leukemia.
Hi, Thanks for using Chat Doctor, Polycythemia Vera myeloproliferative blood disorder in which the bone marrow makes too much red blood cells prevent thrombotic complication in this disease keep hematocrit (red blood cell percentage) down below 45 for men. Bloodletting (called venesection or phlebotomy) is one form of treatment, which often may be combined with other therapies like HY Chat Doctor.  The removal of blood from the body reduces the blood volume and brings down the hematocrit levels. Hy