Blood cancer bone marrow biopsy definitely much tougher than we expect first time round @macncheez
I found over time got easier but not easy
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Easier but not easy sounds good but hopefully I won’t have to have another for a good while 
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Hopefully don’t need another bone marrow biopsy any time soon @macncheez 
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I’ve always found it better if they take the sample from the sternum , less pain and much quicker x
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Good point @Kat77 and thanks for sharing.
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@DuncanB after the dr trying several times in my hip I asked them to stop as it wasn’t pleasant so they went through the sternum and I’d honestly request this every time , I did have a little bit of sedation but it was over in no time x
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No one even flagged this as being an option within the department - how come they shy away from it? Are the samples not typically as good?
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@bloodytall I’m not to sure , I only had it as they struggled so much in my hip .
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Hello @bloodytall, I asked this of the nurse who did my BMB back in 2023 and he said that more blood cell production occurs in the pelvis as it’s a thicker bone, but that biopsies can be taken from the sternum too as it’s also quite a thick bone and nearer the surface.
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I didn’t know the sternum was an option either! They had trouble with 1. getting to my hip bone (the drill kept slipping out of place), 2. drilling into my hip bone (apparently my bone is too hard), 3. getting a good enough sample…you’d think they would have offered something else 
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Ugh that causes me a twinge of sensitivity on your behalf @macncheez! Good news, from what my haematologist tells me, is we tend not to need another BMB unless there are marked changes in our blood cells or their numbers
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My haematologist assured me the same - based on the results I got back. Who knew you could have a good kind of Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia ('CLL').
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Ha right @bloodytall?! I personally am not a fan of any cancer being called good or bad as they are surely all horrible to contend with! I’d never wish a BMB on anyone, but sadly they seem to be the main way to look at the source of our blood cells to find diagnoses. This is one of those situations where I hope science can hurry up and find a less invasive way to do the same analyses!
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To be fair @bloodytall and @Duncan I’d rather they drill into my arm or somewhere I could see to get the marrow! It’s mostly about not being able to see what’s going on that kills me. I think that’s why I also don’t like dental procedures lol
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That’s so true @macncheez, it felt weird not being able to see what was going on. Perhaps it’s best not to, if it gets gory?! It really reminded me of dental stuff too, not a fan.
Ha! I’m quite into the gory stuff @Duncan lol. I asked if I could watch the procedure. They said no but they could video it on my phone if I wanted…which I may have too eagerly said yes. It was a bit hard to watch back when the nurse was slipping…but also kinda cool. It took a while for the next nurse to come in and the student who was filming didn’t want to ask me to unlock my phone so he could video that part. I know she drilled at least 4 times because I felt it each time…she couldn’t get a good enough sample. All in all, quite an ordeal that I wouldn’t wish on anyone!
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My BMB was taken from the back of my pelvis, off to one side of the mid line. Straight in, no slipping. I surprised myself by having a look at the sample afterwards.
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My team always gave me the opportunity to look at the sample when done @Lucky
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@Duncan Did you ever consider taking a photo to share on social media? 
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I asked to have my wife present for support - they declined.. I would have liked a recording but everyone wants to cover their backside nowadays. To be fair, after declining my wife, I didn’t ask.
I did however ask to see the sample, it was about 3cm in length and had a long white bit out one side, 5cm or so. I then discovered the three large vials of bone marrow aspirate!
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