Questions about luekemia?

Question

i keep searching the internet and i keep asking questions. the doctor is now testing me for this. they took blood work friday and there going to take bone marrow tomorrow..

how painful is this biospy(not sure if im spelling this right)???

what questions should i be asking my doctor?

what other things could be wrong other then luekemia that would have the same symtoms?

are there people out there that can live normal lives and still have children?

im so scared and full of questions since my doctor said i could possible have this. i keep checking websites and there not really telling me much.. how does a doctor know to check for this type of cancer? i have had all the symtoms listed. tiredness, weakness, night sweats, fevors, bruise easily. but it seems like those could be anything..

Answer 1

The bone marrow biopsy is not that bad.  You're given a local anesthetic, and your doctor is very careful.  If he/she is taking the aspirate from the hip, you'll feel a lot of pressure because the iliac crest is a big bone.

Your doctor must have seen something in your blood work that suggested abnormal cells.  You certainly would not do a bone marrow bio;sy because you are bruising and have night sweats.  Ask you doctor specifically about the red and white blood cell counts and if the cells are mature.  If immature, how immature?  What specific cell types) is involved.  Immature cells in the circulation is a hallmark of leukemia.

Without more info, it is hard to say what other things beside leukemia that may cause the same symptoms.

Easy bruising suggests a low platelet count, and most of the time we don't know why it happens.  You're tiredness may be due to loss of blood related to the low platelets.  Did you doctor mention anemia?

If you do have leukemia and it is successfully treated, there is no reason that you won't be able to live a normal life, kids and all.

Write me back.  Let me know, and I will answer as many questions as I can.

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