It's completely understandable to feel concerned as symptoms seem to be increasing. With ET, age plays a real role in how the condition behaves, and approaching 60 is actually a key threshold that doctors pay attention to.
As the body ages, gene mutations accumulate more over time, which can make ET more active and Show Full Answer
It's completely understandable to feel concerned as symptoms seem to be increasing. With ET, age plays a real role in how the condition behaves, and approaching 60 is actually a key threshold that doctors pay attention to.
As the body ages, gene mutations accumulate more over time, which can make ET more active and symptomatic. The disease itself can also slowly progress, meaning the bone marrow's overproduction of platelets may become harder to keep in check. After 60, there are some specific risk factors that become more important to monitor with ET:
- Higher platelet counts (severe thrombocytosis) become a bigger concern
- Elevated white blood cell levels (leukocytosis) can increase risks
- Anemia may develop or worsen
- Certain gene changes (like EZH2 or TP53 mutations) can raise the risk of ET progressing further
These factors can increase the risk of blood clots or, in rare cases, progression to myelofibrosis. From a lifestyle standpoint, cardiovascular health becomes especially important after 60. Chronic inflammation from ET can raise the risk of heart-related issues, so keeping these risk factors in check matters a lot:
- Blood pressure — keeping it well controlled
- Smoking — avoiding it entirely
- Blood sugar/diabetes management — staying on top of this
Knowing the warning signs of serious events like blood clots, heart attacks, or strokes is also really valuable at this stage. It's also worth knowing that the emotional weight of managing ET can grow heavier over time too. Research shows that people with MPNs experience higher levels of anxiety and stress than the general population, and those feelings can evolve as the condition changes. Staying connected with both medical and emotional support is genuinely important — not just a nice-to-have.
Talking openly with a hematologist about these changes as 60 approaches is the best move, so any treatment adjustments can be made proactively.
June 9
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