I have to have a bone marrow biopsy on Tuesday - I had chemo and mantle radiotherapy 30 years ago for Hodgkins Lymphoma - Haematologist thinks my low platelets is ITP but needs to rule out other causes specifically Myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) - I am really worried and just wondered if anyone else has had to have BMB because of past cancer treatments? I’m not worried about procedure just the anxiety of waiting for the results ! I suffer with health anxiety quite severely - Thanks so much - I’m finding it hard to focus on anything at the moment and feel very alone.
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Hello Lou22.
Welcome to our forum.
I’m so sorry to learn of your circumstance, I can appreciate it must be a very difficult time for you.
Although I cannot relate specifically to your situation (I have Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) with diagnosis from April 2025) I can understand your concern, going for tests and waiting for the results etc
Feeling alone during this time is something a lot of people experience, but let me assure you - you are not alone. Its lovely to reach out and have people with not dissimilar circumstance as this allows us to share our situation and feel less alone.
You will find lots of help and advice on our web pages but always speak with and follow advice from your medical specialists.
Feel free to keep in touch with the forum and don’t forget we have our help line you can call if you feel this will help you
Take good care
Mike.
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Hello @Lou22
So sorry to hear of your anxiety over the bone marrow biopsy and what might be found.
Sadly, some blood cancers such as Myelodysplastic syndrome (Myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS)) and Chronic myelomonocytic leukaemia (Chronic myelomonocytic leukaemia (CMML)) can be caused by treatments - such as chemo and radiotherapy - for other sorts of cancers in the past. When these develop, they are called treatment-related Myelodysplastic syndrome (Myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS))/Chronic myelomonocytic leukaemia (Chronic myelomonocytic leukaemia (CMML)).
Until you get your results, you won’t know if this has been the case with you. It’s hard not to worry. Who wouldn’t be anxious waiting for these results? We’ve all been there I would imagine.
Hope you soon get some answers. If you are found to have Myelodysplastic syndrome (Myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS)), there is a lot of support out there including online meetings with MDSUK patient support group, as well as BCUK and Leukaemia Care
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