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Article: Problems associated with too many red blood cells.(Life - Health)
- Article from:
- Albany Times Union (Albany, NY)
- Article date:
- September 26, 2006
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2006 Albany Times Union. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Byline: DR. PAUL DONOHUE
DEAR DR. DONOHUE: My husband just returned from the doctor with a possible diagnosis of polycythemia. Would you tell us its significance? Is it a form of cancer?
- W.B.
DEAR W.B.: Polycythemia (POWL-ee-sigh-THEME-ee-uh ) isn't cancer. It comes from a bone marrow that makes too many blood cells - red, white and platelets. Most attention is directed to the red blood cells. What pushed the marrow into this overproduction mode is something that has yet to be explained.
I'll bet the doctor discovered it not from symptoms your husband might have, but from blood work that showed a high red blood cell count.
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