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Newly diagnosed with AML (FTL3 TKD)
Blood Cancers & Disorders | Last Active: Dec 9, 2025 | Replies (78)Comment receiving replies
Hi, @sonieaml Happy to hear it all went well…I’m usually zonked out the next day too if that’s any consolation. Enjoy the nap guilt free. ☺️
There are normally 2 parts to a bone marrow biopsy. They can be done separately or I guess only one or the other, but most often done together as a BMBX. (Bone marrow biopsy and aspiration exam)
There’s the bone marrow aspiration which takes samples of the liquid portion of the marrow and a bone marrow biopsy which is a core sample of the spongy tissue inside your bigger bones, like the hip, that produces red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. But you’re posing a new one for me with the bone biopsy. With my experience of having 13 BMBX I never remember seeing actual bone as part of the testing, just marrow and aspirate. I’d like to know more! So if you learn the reason behind that test, please fill me in!
Now the long wait between testing and results. Distraction!! ☺️ What keeps you busy during the day?
Replies to "Hi, @sonieaml Happy to hear it all went well…I’m usually zonked out the next day too..."
@loribmt
Well you had me thinking about this. I lost track of how many biopsies I’ve had, always the hip from the back first an aspirate with a needle then a core sample in the Illiac crest to remove a core sample of marrow plus a small piece of bone. I had only lidocaine injection so I always knew when they applied pressure to “drill” out that core.
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@loribmt Thank you for sharing your experience with BMB and not knowing about taking bone as part of the procedure. She had a tech in the room who looked at the specimens REAL TIME as she drew the fluid and the marrow to insure they got good samples. 3 vials of marrow I believe I heard her say. The initial bone sample was periodic so she had to find a more substantial sample. I have osteoporosis which has gotten worse over the years. My Hem/Onc doesn’t feel that AML plays into it but the Endo MD does. Go figure.
Will message my Hem/Onc and ask about why a bone sample was included in the BMB. Will send an update when he replies.