Can ET increase risk of blood clots or bleeding because of poorly functioning platelets? Shouldn't ET be treated? As for painful marrow biopsy, was it done at a cancer site that specializes in MPN? A blood cancer institution may perform 12 marrow biopsies a day whereas a hospital that doesn't specialize may perform 12 a month. The fact that two biopsies weren't conclusive is also a concern.

Hi, Renee. Thanks for your comments. I believe you are correct in saying that a bone marrow biopsy is required to decide which MPN one has. Also, in your case, as I understand it, anaemia is a symptom of ET - it was anaemia which led to my being referred to a haematologist.
As I said, I would be willing to undergo another biopsy, even though I have suffered two of them so far which proved unusable for diagnostic purposes. However, I would prefer to have it done under general anaesthetic where I should feel no pain. Maybe, I’m just a wimp! (I have heard others say it’s not too bad).
I do also believe you shouldn’t worry too much about having ET - it won’t reduce your life expectancy and if you follow medical advice, you should easily be able to live with it .
Good luck for the future and thanks again for making contact. xx

Henry2, Hello, I was diagnosed a month and a half ago. My hematologist said I had ET, but when I read that in 2016 the WHO stated the only way to determine ET or myelofibrosis was to have a bone marrow biopsy. I asked my hematologist who stated I could have one if I wanted to confirm, but she said I was not showing signs of anemia, therefore she belies I have ET. So I do not know if I want the biopsy or not. I am waiting to talk to her about it at my June appt. My platelets are 900. Sending hugs