Myeloproliferative neoplasms overview
Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center is recognized as a Center of Excellence by the Myelodysplastic Syndromes Foundation for the diagnosis and treatment of myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN), also called myeloproliferative disorders, and myelodysplastic syndrome, a group of chronic bone marrow diseases that affect blood-forming stem cells.
What to expect
Everyone who comes to Fred Hutch with myeloproliferative neoplasm (MPN) has a personal team that includes a hematologist, social worker, physical therapist, nutritionist, and nurse case manager.
Having a serious illness can feel overwhelming. Your experienced, compassionate team is ready to help you adjust to what’s happening. You may want to read the section on patient support. You may want to join a support group, or talk to a social worker or chaplain.
If you have questions about your condition, your treatment, and your future, write them down and bring them with you when you see your doctor.
Ask someone you trust to go with you to doctors’ appointments and tests. This person can provide emotional support and help you by keeping track of questions you want to ask, taking notes, and doing research on your disease and treatment options.
Facts
MPN are a group of diseases that affect blood-cell formation. In all forms of MPN, a bone marrow problem leads to increased levels of blood cells circulating in the bloodstream.
Treatment
The doctors at Fred Hutch and UW Medicine, are world leaders in research to better understand and more effectively treat these diseases.
Fred Hutch offers a range of standard therapies for MPN such as medications to reduce high blood counts, supportive care to relieve symptoms, and chemotherapy to control abnormal blood cells. Some of our patients benefit from drugs like imatinib (Gleevec) and ruxolitinib (Jakafi), which inhibit abnormal proteins related to specific gene mutations that occur in some types of MPN. In addition, we offer treatments that are not yet commercially available but show promise in clinical studies.
We also offer bone marrow transplantation (also called stem cell transplantation or hematopoietic cell transplantation)—the only treatment option with the potential to cure MPN.
Providers
At Fred Hutch, you receive care from a team of providers with extensive experience in your disease. Your team includes physicians, a patient care coordinator, a registered nurse, an advanced practice provider and others, based on your needs. You also have access to experts like nutritionists, social workers, acupuncturists, psychiatrists and more who specialize in supporting people with cancer or blood disorders.
Clinical trials
Fred Hutch was formed, in part, to bring promising new treatments to patients faster. For myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN) patients, this means more treatment options at Fred Hutch than you might find elsewhere, including the chance to participate in one of many ongoing clinical trials conducted at both Fred Hutch and UW Medicine.
Resources
There are many resources online for learning about your disease. We’ve compiled a list of trusted sources to help you get started. If you or your caregiver are seeking additional information or resources, our Patient and Family Resource Center is available to help connect you with what you need.