Bone marrow biopsy results et

[Irishgal12]

So had bmb not as bad as I thought.

What can results indicate?

[Applesnpears]

Good to hear that the BMB was not too bad. The biopsy will allow an examination of the cells in the bone marrow. The number of different cells types, their appearance and the presence of fibres in the marrow helps confirm the type of MPN you have. It also provides a baseline on the state of your bone marrow. This can be used to assess whether there have been any changes over time.

[Irishgal12 in reply to Applesnpears]

Thank you I hope it doesn't show scarring or mf

[Applesnpears in reply to Irishgal12]

If you are free of symptoms I think it is most unlikely.

[Aojai in reply to Irishgal12]

Scarring could be seen , but if it ws MF ur cbc reading would b different other than just high platelets

[MaggieSylvie]

Wow! Well done. I didn't like to say but my BMB was extremely painful, the residual pain lasting for days (to be fair, they did have to have two tries). Let's hope it is all good news. I think when they go into the bone marrow, they can actually see how your blood cells are created. Why didn't you talk to the nurse who held your hand? She would have been able to give you more information. Mine didn't tell me what they were looking for but she did say I might have to go on a small amount of aspirin or to have a hormone injection. I didn't dare ask what they were looking for because I didn't think they were looking for anything specific - just to see what's there. Now I know more about it, there are so many outcomes that I don't think you would get a meaningful answer.

Anyway, Irishgal, that's the worst bit over! One more milestone. Good luck, Maggie

[Chaz1]

They will look for fibrosis & other bits. They can't always tell which MPN you have from the BMB but can confirm you have a MPN. Most cases will have some fibrosis as that is the indication of MPN from my understanding. You might just get told that it confirms your diagnosis & little other information. It won't tell you your chances of progression etc... Just shows how you are at that snapshot on life. If you have a certain amount of fibrosis & scarring do not be concerned. Talk it through with your Haemo, often the testing is just for their benefit to see where you are doing in the future. If you don't understand what they tell you then ensure you ask them to explain further. Results can take a few weeks so don't panic in the meantime. Glad it wasn't too bad x

[Irishgal12 in reply to Chaz1]

I hope there not fibrous that would scare me as am 32 so bound to bet mf

[Tylerdog1 in reply to Irishgal12]

Stay positive - remember it is a very rare condition and only a very few people diagnosed with MPN actually progress to MF. I was diagnosed with PV 13 years ago and still only have that. In lots of cases it only requires taking an aspirin to keep the associated risks down. Hopefully that’s all you will need 🙂

[Chaz1 in reply to Irishgal12]

I think with MPN there will be some fibrosis, it's part & parcel of the condition so don't be concerned by it, it does not mean MF, nor that you will progress. Progression is not a given, is very difficult to predict and in the majority of cases doesn't occur.

[Tylerdog1 in reply to Chaz1]

I have no idea what this actually means as this is taken from my Haematologists letter to my doctor after my BMB was done and haven’t yet had follow up meeting - but he says BMB was primarily done to compare against the one I originally had in 2007 and to ..... check cellularity (I’m 70%) check Reticulin (Ive grade 2 fibrosis) CD34 of 4% and 117 of 7% ..... on the basis of these results I’m now on Interferon after only ever being on Aspirin previously

[Irishgal12 in reply to Tylerdog1]

How r u with interferon

[Tylerdog1 in reply to Irishgal12]

So far so good - feel a bit rough/sick the day after (have injection and go to bed) but it wears off by mid-day.

[Aojai]

I hav only high platelets for now , r u 8n the same situation ?

I also wanted to kn in this group that if it ws other cancer and not MPN then infamation tests or markers like CRP and ESR would give a reading ??

[Irishgal12 in reply to Aojai]

Yea I am just aspirin. Am not sure about crp and esr x