Bone marrow is a spongy tissue present inside the bones. Bone marrow contains stem cells which develop into red blood cells (RBCs), white blood cells (WBCs), and platelets. Bone marrow cancer occurs when the marrow cells start to multiply at an accelerated rate. Bone marrow cancer is also called blood cancer as this condition mainly affects the blood. There are three main types of bone marrow cancer, including multiple myeloma, leukemia, and lymphoma. The signs and symptoms of each type vary.
Diagnosis of Bone Marrow Cancer
If a person has signs or symptoms of bone marrow cancer, a healthcare provider will review the medical history of the patient and will perform a physical examination. Based on the medical assessment, the doctor may recommend the following bone marrow cancer diagnosis tests:
- Blood tests: A Complete Blood Count (CBC), complete metabolic profile, and blood test to check for certain tumor markers are performed to diagnose bone marrow cancer.
- Urine test: This test is done to check for the presence of abnormal proteins in the urine, mainly Bence Jones proteins in case of multiple myeloma. It is also done to assess kidney functioning.
- Biopsy: The doctor will perform a biopsy of the bone marrow or an enlarged lymph node to look for the presence of cancerous cells. For this, a sample of solid tissue or bone marrow aspiration is taken for testing.
- Genetic tests: The healthcare team may recommend for BCR-ABL1 genetic test to look for any abnormality in the BCR-ABL1 gene because this is involved in certain blood cancer types.
- Imaging tests: CT scan, MRI, PET scan, and X-rays are done to look for tumors.
Conclusion
The chances of recovery from bone marrow cancer decrease as the condition progresses in the body. Early diagnosis and therapies can improve a person's treatment outcome and increase the patient's life expectancy. Enrolling in cancer wellness programmes can help patients mentally stay strong. There are several health insurance policies that provide coverage for cancer treatments and having one will help us meet our financial needs during the treatment period.