bone scan question

Last week, my onc. told me that my red blood cell count was very low. Will do another blood text next week, and he asked me if I am willing to have a bone biopsy. Has anyone had this done?

Connie, having had a bone scan in the past, all i can say is that it is totally noninvasive. You lay still and the instrument just kind of goes over you like a wand. I had the technician sit with me through the procedure and we talked - the 20 minutes went super quick. it you're super anxious talk to your onc about a small dose sedative if you think you'll need it, but really it was a piece of cake- especially compared to everything else. So though i can't answer any of your questions about blood counts etc, hopefully i can help put your mind at ease regarding the procedure itself. Good Luck
LittleFlower

I think you are referring to a bone marrow biopsy. My onc also mentioned I may need to have this checked due to low red blood counts six months out of chemo (which he felt is unusual). That said, sometimes I think it just takes months for the side effects from chemo to disappear. My dizziness related to the low red blood count has seemed to improve recently, so I am hoping for good news when I get my bloodwork in two weeks and see my onc. I have noticed other side effects such as fatigue and vision problems that I have had are slowly improving also. I am now 7 1/2 months out of chemo, 5 1/2 months out of radiation. I think chemo is just the gift that keeps on giving!!

Bone scan, Nuke Bone Scan, Bone Biopsy, X-rays, MRI, Cat Scans, Nuke Heart Tests, Blood Tests, Mammograms, Digital Mammograms, the endless pictures, biopsies, and pathology reports.

Few doctors are trained to read exrays or perform bloodtests, pathology tests, etc. It's all done in the dark secret rooms hidden away in Wizard's labs with magic wands and giant magnifying glasses. lol. kidding

The specialists who read and write the reports are the actual diagnostic experts; what if they happen to be tired, have a bad day, are in a hurry, or even pass the job off to a med student? I find it all mysterious and somehow feel jipped because the physicians rarely even see the real thing. The techs are often students, and I can't tell you how often they flub things.

Phlebotomists only need a year or two of training; my arm can testify to that one! I had some scarey mishaps with trainee techs, nurses, docs, and I went to an excellent hospital with exceptional insurance.

Chemobrain is so bad, I don't even leave the house; only for short errands, dog walks, and doctor appts. Last time I went to the surgeon for 6 wk follow-up, a policeman came up to me in the grocery store and asked me if I had been drinking or doing drugs! I was so embarrassed, decided never to go shopping again. Had to tell him I had chemo, rads, breast cancer and peripheral neuropathy; can barely button shirts, turn pages, and stumble a bit; have a hard time with dizzy spells. Docs say, it will go away, eventually, maybe. Maybe?

It's not too bad; it's not too good. Limboland is strange.


Indi