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Essential Thrombocythemia: Looking for information and support
Blood Cancers & Disorders | Last Active: Nov 4 11:06am | Replies (597)Comment receiving replies
No, it was not mentioned. I did have three different blood tests done which showed I was JAK2 positive and not CALR positive. I do have regular (every 2-4 weeks) blood work done to check my platelet etc. numbers to see how my HU is helping.
Replies to "No, it was not mentioned. I did have three different blood tests done which showed I..."
As I understand it, a bmbx will tell your oncologist either there is fibrosis in the bone marrow and to what extent. It can provide a baseline for future bmbx's. Given that the emphasis for MPN patients is management vs cure, a good question for your doc is: "How will the results help you treat me?" The copay on bmbx can also be pricey, so something else to factor in.
My bmbx was fine with just Ativan for sedation and topical anesthesia. It's over quick and felt about like a bee sting.
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Then don’t worry about needing a bone marrow biopsy...they aren’t always necessary to aid with a diagnosis. Your doctor is getting all the information they need from the blood work. Are you tolerating the higher dosage of hydroxy ok?