Bone Marrow Aspiration

[hdmatson]

Stage III-Has anyone had to have bone marrow test after they've completed treatment because their WBC is low? I've done so well with my treatments except for the reaction to the oxalyplatin which was discontinued after my 5th treatment. My oncologist says he wants to do a bone marrow test a month after I'm done with my treatment. Any one else experienced this? I thought the chemo wreaked havoc on your blood cells anyway, white and red. I can't understand why he thinks I need a bone marrow aspiration.

[dasspears]

Yes, I have. I was Stage I anal cancer but the radiation and chemo really affected my WBC level. They will come up some and then go down but have never come back to the level they were before treatment. I'm on year 4 of NED and my onc thinks that this may be a my new normal. He mentioned doing another aspiration in 2012 before releasing me - it will depend upon my blood work.

[hdmatson]

Stage III CC-Thank you. That puts me at ease a little bit because, everyone is amazed at how well I'm doing and this is the only thing they can find so far. I feel like it's almost like they can't find anything so they need to look for something. I know it's better safe than sorry, and maybe this is my new normal too, but it's stressful to have to wait until treatment is done to find out if there may be something else wrong. Congrats on 4 years, BTW.

[dasspears]

Thank you! There is a lady on another cancer site who was Stage III rectal cancer and she also has low WBC and has for a couple of years now. Her onc said the same thing - probably a new normal for her. The radiation does a lot of damage to that area and even now, I will occasionally have hip pain if I stand for too long or walk too much but it's treatable with Tylenol so it's all good in my opinion!! I hope you continue to improve!!!

[jens22]

I never heard of that. It took almost 9 months to get my WBC back to normal and they still run on the lower side. I would let them folllow you labs every 3 months as per the protocols and see what happens first.

[pstolarski]

I'm 2+ years post chemo and my WBC has never been that good. I hover in the upper 3s and sometimes I bounce up to the low 4s but never any better than that. My onc has never been that concerned. I can't tell that it has had any negative effect on me so if she's not worried, I'm not going to worry.

My question would be what value do you gain from the test? Also, what effect does low WBC have on you (us)? For me it does not have any impact and knowing my bone marrow is not functioning correctly probably due to chemo is just one more thing to worry about. Frankly, I'm glad my onc has never suggested that test as I don't think I would do it.

Just my opinion.

[Lee]

I'm stage III also, 7 years out from treatment. My blood works was seriously out of wack following my chemo treatment but did return to normal after several months. While my Onc never said anything about a bone marrow aspiration, she did tell me when I finished radiation and chemo to "always" assume my immune system is compromised. Just because it is fine now does not mean it will always be that way. I got a serious sinus infection this past year and when I finally saw the Dr and told me my systems (felt like it was clearing then would get worse, after the 3 round of this, I make the appt), he also responsed "your immune must be compromised somehow".

Other than that all is fine, but I do live with ache and pain in my hip area.

Lee

[hdmatson]

I'm considering not doing it. I will ask more questions at my next visit. My wife freaked out when I told her because she said that's a pretty serious test to just "take a look".