 | This is a very common question! First, though, what is a bone marrow biopsy and why would you need one? Bone marrow refers to the spongy area inside of all of our bones. The bone marrow is the factory where all of our blood cells are made (white blood cells, red blood cells, and platelets). Some cancers, like leukemia, start in the bone marrow. Other cancers, like solid tumors, can spread or metastasize to the bone marrow. It's important to know if cancer has spread to the bone marrow because this helps us to know how advanced your cancer is and what types of chemotherapy you will need to get better. (Remember, though, that all leukemia's by definition start in the bone marrow, so having leukemia in the bone marrow doesn't reflect how advanced your cancer is!) In order to look at your bone marrow, doctors perform two types of procedures. One is called a bone marrow aspirate and the other is called a bone marrow biopsy. The purpose of the bone marrow aspirate is to obtain the fluid part ("aspirate") from the bone marrow space. This is done using a needle into the part of the bone closest to the surface of your body, usually the back hip bone. This fluid then can have many different tests done on it to check for cancer. The bone marrow biopsy actually involves taking a very small piece of bone from the same area using another type of needle. The biopsy preserves the look of the bone marrow under the microscope and is sometimes easier to evaluate than the aspirate. There is very little blood with bone marrow aspirates or biopsies, and the tiny hole from the needle scabs over very quickly. Often, patients tell us they feel sore for a couple of days, like they have been kicked in the back. This soreness goes away by a week's time. Chronic pain is almost unheard of from bone marrow procedures. Obviously, if you have many, frequent bone marrows you will be more likely to be sore more often, but that should still not cause chronic pain. In general, people tolerate bone marrow biopsies very well and are back on their feet by the next day. Please note: All information contained on this website, including information relating to health conditions, products and treatments, is for informational purposes only. It is often presented in summary or aggregate form. This information is not meant to substitute for the advice provided by your own doctor or other medical professionals. It is recommended that people discuss cancer care and treatment options with a doctor or medical provider who specializes in oncology. |
