Types of Cancer
Read more about some of the more common types of cancer including Breast, Lung, Ovarian, Lymphoma and more.
Drug Dictionary
Find out more about the drugs you or a loved one is using in the fight against cancer.
Blood Diseases
Read more about some of the blood diseases treated by our hematology experts.
Glossary
Be sure you understand the terms used by your doctors and nurses. Review this glossary for easy-to-understand definitions.Possible signs of polycythemia vera include headaches and a feeling of fullness below the ribs on the left side.
Polycythemia vera often does not cause early symptoms. It is sometimes found during a routine blood test. Symptoms may occur as the number of blood cells increases. Other conditions may cause the same symptoms. A doctor should be consulted if any of the following problems occur:
- A feeling of pressure or fullness below the ribs on the left side
- Headaches
- Double vision or seeing dark or blind spots that come and go
- Itching all over the body, especially after being in warm or hot water
- Reddened face that looks like a blush or sunburn
- Weakness
- Dizziness
- Weight loss for no known reason
Special blood tests are used to diagnose polycythemia vera. In addition to a complete blood count, bone marrow aspiration and biopsy, and cytogenetic analysis, a serum erythropoietin test is used to diagnose polycythemia vera. In this test, a sample of blood is checked for the level of erythropoietin (a hormone that stimulates new red blood cells to be made).
