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When properly monitored and treated, essential thrombocythemia patients have an excellent chance of longevity.
Overall survival is similar to that of a healthy population matched by age and sex during the first decade after diagnosis and may differ thereafter (due to disease complications such as thrombosis, transformation to myelofibrosis, acute leukemia or myelodysplasia). When properly managed and carefully followed, life expectancy of ET patients can be similar to that of general population.
ET is a chronic hematologic malignancy, so it is important for patients to regularly consult with a hematologist and to report any symptoms such as visual disturbances, unexplained pain, numbness, tingling or bruising. Patients who experience symptoms from ET will require treatment.