I have an opinion about BM Biopsies.
On one hand I will have a B biopsy whenever my oncologists believe it is best. So far their recommendations have seemed to be reasonable.
On the other hand I will not have a BM biopsy performed on me without conscious sedation.
I had to experience one biopsy in a physician's office with a nurse practitioner performing the procedure with only lidocain as an anesthetic. I was told before hand there would be little pain.
For me the procedure was painful to the point of being cruel and I did not understand why a physician would want to subject his patients to endure such a procedure when other alternatives were available.Because of this and other bedside manner consideration, I found another stem cell oncologist. I know this decision will seem extreme to many of you and perhaps even unreasonable.
My last BM biopsy was done by a interventional radiologist with conscious sedation performed by a nurse.
Forums
Re: Question re: frequency of bone marrow biopsies
Chip, I agree with you totally. To do a bone marrow biopsy with only lidocaine is cruel and unnecessary. I am a nurse, my husband (the multiple myeloma patient) is a physician. He has had conscious aneshtesia for both of his biopsies and wouldn't have it any other way.
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rumnting - Who do you know with myeloma?: husband
- When were you/they diagnosed?: 4/9/11
- Age at diagnosis: 54
HOW DID YOU FIND OUT ABOUT CANCER
Hi my name is Terry and am sitting here awaiting bone marrow biopsy had mri for back pain and they said that looked good but there were some problems in the bone marrow
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CHEF TERRY
Re: HOW DID YOU FIND OUT ABOUT CANCER
CHEF TERRY wrote:
> Hi my name is Terry and am sitting here awaiting bone marrow biopsy had mri
> for back pain and they said that looked good but there were some problems
> in the bone marrow
Hi Chef... with us, our twice annual bloodwork from our family doctor showed something odd.... we were thankfully able to catch it quickly. Good luck, honey. Stay positive.
> Hi my name is Terry and am sitting here awaiting bone marrow biopsy had mri
> for back pain and they said that looked good but there were some problems
> in the bone marrow
Hi Chef... with us, our twice annual bloodwork from our family doctor showed something odd.... we were thankfully able to catch it quickly. Good luck, honey. Stay positive.
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Nanette - Name: Nanette "Deaux"
- Who do you know with myeloma?: My dear husband, Dominic
- When were you/they diagnosed?: Spring of 2008
- Age at diagnosis: 62
Re: Question re: frequency of bone marrow biopsies
Hi everyone,
I had my monthly appointment with my oncologist today and was relieved to find out that either his nurse/nurse practitioner had given me incorrect information last month, or I didn't understand what they were saying. He said I'll actually only have to have a biopsy now 1-2 times a year, unless the blood work turns up something that requires further testing. So that was definitely a relief!
I had a biopsy on 10/21 and the results were very good; pretty much the same as they were in July (a few random plasma cells here and there, but nothing that would indicate that the myeloma is trying to return.)
The other good news I got today was that the doctor decided I could drop my dexamethasone dose from 40 mg/week to 20 mg/week. Hopefully that will help with my continuing problems with sleeplessness, weight gain, etc. I wasn't sure if the clinical trial I'm in would allow modifications to the drug dosages, but apparently it does.
For those of you facing bone marrow biopsies for the first time, I found for this last one (my third) that taking Ativan prior to the procedure really helped with the discomfort from the withdrawing of the bone/blood samples. I can handle the burning sensation from the Lidocaine (which is all my doctor's group gives for this procedure unless you specifically ask for sedation or something more involved) but that other feeling was quite uncomfortable for me. The nurse practitioner said that while there is no pain medication that will work well against this, reducing one's anxiety via the Ativan does seem to work for a lot of people, and I think it did for me.
Thanks for all of your responses!
Karen
I had my monthly appointment with my oncologist today and was relieved to find out that either his nurse/nurse practitioner had given me incorrect information last month, or I didn't understand what they were saying. He said I'll actually only have to have a biopsy now 1-2 times a year, unless the blood work turns up something that requires further testing. So that was definitely a relief!
I had a biopsy on 10/21 and the results were very good; pretty much the same as they were in July (a few random plasma cells here and there, but nothing that would indicate that the myeloma is trying to return.)
The other good news I got today was that the doctor decided I could drop my dexamethasone dose from 40 mg/week to 20 mg/week. Hopefully that will help with my continuing problems with sleeplessness, weight gain, etc. I wasn't sure if the clinical trial I'm in would allow modifications to the drug dosages, but apparently it does.
For those of you facing bone marrow biopsies for the first time, I found for this last one (my third) that taking Ativan prior to the procedure really helped with the discomfort from the withdrawing of the bone/blood samples. I can handle the burning sensation from the Lidocaine (which is all my doctor's group gives for this procedure unless you specifically ask for sedation or something more involved) but that other feeling was quite uncomfortable for me. The nurse practitioner said that while there is no pain medication that will work well against this, reducing one's anxiety via the Ativan does seem to work for a lot of people, and I think it did for me.
Thanks for all of your responses!
Karen
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Karen - Name: Karen
- When were you/they diagnosed?: December 2010
- Age at diagnosis: 51
15 posts
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