Hello there @Conrossmac, welcome to the forum. I saw your other post and I’m really so sorry to read of your diagnosis—on your birthday?! Grim timing, but here’s to many more birthdays ahead!
Last year I was diagnosed with Polycythaemia vera (PV), a closely related Myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN) to Essential thrombocythemia (ET). Perhaps you’d like to read the Blood Cancer UK information about our rare little family of blood cancers: What are myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN)? | Blood Cancer UK
Here’s the BCUK information about Essential thrombocythemia (ET) specifically: Essential thrombocythaemia | Blood Cancer UK
I read that you’re an active young person and wanted to share how my haematologist reassures me about my own exercise. I’m also considered a young blood cancer survivor and it took me some time to feel less anxious and overwhelmed by my diagnosis. There is a lot of outdated information at the end of a quick google, and sadly much of it is inaccurate and gives us prognoses that are just totally wrong.
My haematologist told me something that gives me a lot of hope—that we are more likely to die with Essential thrombocythemia (ET) or Polycythaemia vera (PV) than from them. We can live into normal old age with some adaptations and regular checkups of our blood.
So I’d say keep hold of your humour (I, too, am glad to miss christmas parties hahaha) and keep notes of anything that comes up. Take these questions to your haematologist who should answer them using current understanding of Essential thrombocythemia (ET) and any treatments you’ll need.
I’m a keen hiker and was worried I’d not be able to get out into the hills after diagnosis as I kept reading about cancer-related fatigue. I’m not going to lie… After starting daily hydroxyurea I developed pretty disabling fatigue which stopped me getting outside so much initially. Instead, I read some research showing slow exercise like yoga, tai chi and Pilates is really helpful for increasing energy when fatigue is bad, so I started doing yoga at home in front of the telly. As my body got used to the chemotherapy my fatigue faded. Now I’m back to hiking plus I have a yoga practice too! Fitter then pre-diagnosis, somehow.
So I’d say try not to think of losing your previous interests, but maybe consider adapting them for now while you get used to your diagnosis and any treatments you might have. Might be worth bearing in mind how exhausting raising your child will be too, and how those responsibilities will take up time and energy, regardless of the Essential thrombocythemia (ET) or exercise.
Really glad you found the forum @Conrossmac! Have a look around as there are many folks here living with Essential thrombocythemia (ET) and other Myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN) who have shared how they exercise, eat healthily and so on.