What do they test bone marrow for?
Your doctor uses a bone marrow test to examine the fluid and tissue in your marrow. The tests help determine whether cancer or another disease is affecting blood cells or marrow, as well as the extent of the disease. Some changes to blood cells can be detected in marrow samples before they can be seen in blood samples.
Can multiple myeloma be cured?
Treatment for multiple myeloma can often help control symptoms and improve quality of life. But myeloma usually can’t be cured, which means additional treatment is needed when the cancer comes back.
What is a bone marrow test and how is it done?
Bone marrow tests check whether your bone marrow is healthy and making normal amounts of blood cells. The two bone marrow tests are aspiration and biopsy. Aspiration is usually done first to collect a small amount of bone marrow fluid through a needle.
What should I expect during a bone marrow biopsy?
Bone marrow aspiration and bone marrow biopsy tests are usually given at the same time. A doctor or other health care provider will perform the tests. Before the tests, the provider may ask you to put on a hospital gown. The provider will check your blood pressure, heart rate, and temperature.
What are the risks of bone marrow test?
There are possibilities of not meeting severe risks with the bone marrow test. However, the examination may result into few complications like: Skin infection or infection in the bone at the biopsy site (osteomyelitis). You may encounter heavy bleeding during the biopsy site.
How bone marrow aspiration test can determine cancer?
If tests show low red blood cells or white blood cells the doctor may advise you to get bone marrow aspiration test. This test is also an important cancer determining test which tells whether cancer is spread in the bones or not. Medical conditions related to unhealthy bone marrow are anaemia, leukaemia or lymphoma and bone marrow diseases.