Bone Marrow Aspiration and Biopsy
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Bone marrow aspiration and biopsy can be a useful tool both in detecting and staging certain cancers. Hodgkin's disease and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (cancers of the lymphatic system), multiple myeloma (cancer of the plasma cell), Ewing's sarcoma (a bone cancer typically found in children and young adults), osteosarcoma (the most common bone cancer), and leukemia (cancer that begins in the bone marrow) can be diagnosed using bone marrow aspiration and/or biopsy. Prostate, breast, and lung cancers can spread, or metastasize, to bone marrow, and thus a bone marrow aspiration can be used to determine the progression of, or stage, those diseases. Bone marrow aspiration can also be used to gauge the effectiveness of a chemotherapy program.
Bone marrow is the soft, spongy material in the center of bones; some of this is simply fat, but cellular marrow, found in the breast bone, skull, hips, ribs, and spine, contains stem cells that give rise to red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. Bone marrow aspiration is a relatively simple outpatient procedure. Generally, the bone marrow is drawn from the back of the hipbone (also referred to as the pelvis, or ilium), but in rare cases the marrow is taken from the sternum (breastbone). The patient is given a mild sedative, and a local anesthetic. The doctor then withdraws the marrow. A bone marrow biopsy differs from bone marrow aspiration in that the needle is thicker, and a bit of bone is taken along with the marrow.
Serious complications arising from bone marrow aspiration are uncommon. Some patients continue to bleed, a complication addressed by applying pressure to the point of the procedure and, in extreme cases, by treatment with blood clotting medication. There's a small chance of bone infection at the site where marrow was withdrawn (more common, but still rare, with bone marrow biopsies). Finally, there's an extremely slight chance of injury to the heart, lung, or major blood vessel if the bone marrow aspiration and/or biopsy was taken from the breastbone. Since that point of aspiration is infrequently used, the chances of this complication occurring are extremely rare. After your bone marrow aspiration you will be observed for a while to ensure proper recovery and to check for bleeding.
CTCA and Your Treatment Options
If you or a loved one has undergone a bone marrow aspiration and the results are positive, indicating cancer, please don't hesitate to contact one of our Oncology Information Specialists to discuss your bone marrow aspiration results, your prognosis, and the treatment options available at Cancer Treatment Centers of America. Facing cancer can be extremely difficult; at CTCA we break down the information overload and provide clear data to equip you to make informed decisions regarding your care. Our Oncology Information Specialist team is available 24 hours a day, every day. You can contact us either via phone at 800-615-3055, online chat, or email. We know the results of a bone marrow aspiration or biopsy can be confusing, and are here to help you understand your options.
Bone Marrow Transplantation
Bone marrow transplantation (BMT) is a procedure that restores stem cells that have been destroyed by high doses of chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy. Chemotherapy and radiation therapy are used to treat cancer because both affect cells that divide rapidly, which is generally true of cancer cells. However, because bone marrow cells also divide rapidly, the treatment can damage those beneficial cells as well, affecting the patient's ability to produce blood cells that carry oxygen, fight infection, or aid in clotting. Bone marrow transplantation allows your physician to use high doses of anticancer drugs and/or radiation to treat your cancer, then replenish your stem cells.
Two types of bone marrow transplantation are generally used: autologous and allogenic. Autologous bone marrow transplants use your own bone marrow cells, donated and frozen previous to treatment. By making you your own donor your doctors avoid complications such as rejection. An allogenic bone marrow transplant procedure replaces your cells with healthy bone marrow stem cells from another person.
Typically, following a bone marrow transplantation you are extremely susceptible to infection. The growth of new blood cells takes from two to three weeks, and during this time you are is kept in the hospital. Multiple transfusions of red blood cells and platelets are required until the new or reintroduced stem cells begin producing a sufficient amount on their own.
Your team at CTCA will equip you with the knowledge to develop a comprehensive treatment plan that combines every available option. From discussing the results of your bone marrow aspiration or biopsy to recommending treatment options if you've been diagnosed with cancer, we work with you and your family to create an individualized, integrated program. All treatments will take place under one roof, in a caring, nurturing environment not often found in care facilities. At Cancer Treatment Centers of America, we promise to keep you at the center of your healing process, to deliver integrative, individualized care as we walk with you on this journey of hope.