Bone Marrow Biopsy - How Often?

Mom has had 3 so far - at diagnosys, mid-treatment (first - Thal-Vel-Dex) and 3 months after treatment. Results were 15%, 0, 15%. She is on Rev/dex/dox till May and her doctor insists on another biopsy in May. Questions that I have are:

1. What is the point of doing biopsy at the end of treatment as it is almost 100% that there will be no plasma cells?

2. How often is it necessary to do a biopsy - mom is not taking anesthesia lightly - to keep track of things?

3. Why not just do blood tests? (she has Bence-Jones)

thank you...

I feel the bone marrow biopsy is necessary more often than not to determine the amount of myeloma in the bone marrow. Your Mother's numbers are not bad. My husband was diagnosed in September 2006 with 30 per cent. In Februay 2007 he had another biopsy before transplant after taking thal/dex from November 2006. Transplant was done March 2007. He had a 100 day biopsy after transplant and he was at 17 percent. In July 2007 he went on vel/dex and in August 2007 had another biopsy. He had to go off the vel/dex after one round because his other numbers were not good. This biopsy showed 75 per cent. He had another done in September and it showed 90 plus per cent. When he entered the hospital in October he was at 100 per cent. I think the biopsy is helpful to determine if the treatment is working. For my husband it was not. He was in the hospital for a radical chemo treatment in hopes of giving him more time. The chemo was working this time but in the process nothing else was. He passed away October 15, 2007 but not without a fight. Whatever tests they need to do allow them to do. My husband did not have the Bence Jones but he die have the missing 13 chromosone. Good luck with your Mom's treatment and keep up the good biopsy results.

Linda

Thank you very much - I am very sorry for your loss - these days mm seems almost a household disease, I hear about people suffering from it every week. There is a hope that while chemo delays inevitable, science will come up with the cure...Mom has an intact 13th chromosome therefore doctors are puzzled as to why the thal/vel/dex didn't work. Do you know whether biopsies are always done under general anesthesia?

Dear Yana: You are right about MM Ihave never seen so much suddenly come forth. It is supposed to be a defective Stem cell so why now.  It is hitting all ages. Re the bone marrow. Important for frequent check ups as not all patients show up the correct cancer/protein markers for MM. I never did have any and the only way to see was a bone marrow test.  I also had to have MRI to keep check on my spine etc as there was no way to tell what was happening. Drugs act differently for each person, we are individuals with individual chemistry and DNA...I trust that your mother does better and do not be afraid of the bone marrow tests.They are important markers. MMS

On 3/22/2008 YanaMom wrote:

Thank you very much - I am very sorry for your loss - these days mm seems almost a household disease, I hear about people suffering from it every week. There is a hope that while chemo delays inevitable, science will come up with the cure...Mom has an intact 13th chromosome therefore doctors are puzzled as to why the thal/vel/dex didn't work. Do you know whether biopsies are always done under general anesthesia?

dowtown: How sad for you and God Bless you as you cope with the loss of a beloved husband. Yes wer are all different...Some of us are more fortuante to have particular treatments work for us. Take care MMS

On 3/22/2008 downtown wrote:

I feel the bone marrow biopsy is necessary more often than not to determine the amount of myeloma in the bone marrow. Your Mother's numbers are not bad. My husband was diagnosed in September 2006 with 30 per cent. In Februay 2007 he had another biopsy before transplant after taking thal/dex from November 2006. Transplant was done March 2007. He had a 100 day biopsy after transplant and he was at 17 percent. In July 2007 he went on vel/dex and in August 2007 had another biopsy. He had to go off the vel/dex after one round because his other numbers were not good. This biopsy showed 75 per cent. He had another done in September and it showed 90 plus per cent. When he entered the hospital in October he was at 100 per cent. I think the biopsy is helpful to determine if the treatment is working. For my husband it was not. He was in the hospital for a radical chemo treatment in hopes of giving him more time. The chemo was working this time but in the process nothing else was. He passed away October 15, 2007 but not without a fight. Whatever tests they need to do allow them to do. My husband did not have the Bence Jones but he die have the missing 13 chromosone. Good luck with your Mom's treatment and keep up the good biopsy results.

Linda