Fanconi Anaemia Australia
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Who is Fanconi Anaemia Australia?
Fanconi Anaemia Australia provides a variety of support services to families suffering Fanconi Anaemia, in addition to providing broad-based education doctors, carers, families and the general public. Fanconi Anaemia Australia was first established in February 2006 by Alan Howard-Jones as an Incorporated Association (FA Australia Incorporated). Alan's wife Charisse (now deceased) was a sufferer of Fanconi Anaemia, and following their attendance at Camp Sunshine in Maine USA in 2005, Alan founded the organisation to provide support to Australian families and to assist in increasing public awareness of the disorder. The organisation was restructured in 2007 as a Public company called Fanconi Anaemia Australia Ltd
About Bone Marrow Biopsy
Acknowledgements
Fanconi Anaemia Australia Ltd gratefully acknowledges The Leukaemia Foundation of Australia for granting us permission to use some of the material in their booklets and information sheets to provide the following information (Oct 2009)
Bone marrow biopsy
If the results of your blood tests suggest that you might have MDS, a bone marrow biopsy may be required to help confirm the diagnosis. A bone marrow biopsy involves taking a sample of bone marrow, usually from the back of the iliac crest (hip bone) and sending it to the laboratory for examination under the microscope.
What’s Involved?
The bone marrow biopsy may be done in the haematologist’s rooms or clinic under local anaesthesia or, in selected cases, under a short general anaesthetic in a day procedure unit. A mild sedative and a pain-killer is given beforehand and the skin is numbed using a local anaesthetic. This is given as an injection under the skin. The injection takes a minute or two, and you should feel only a mild stinging sensation.
After allowing time for the local anaesthetic to work, a long thin needle is inserted through the skin and outer layer of bone into the bone marrow cavity. A syringe is attached to the end of the needle and a small sample of bone marrow fluid is drawn out – this is called a ‘bone marrow aspirate’. Then a slightly larger needle is used to obtain a small core of bone marrow which will provide more detailed information about the structure of the bone marrow and bone – this is known as a ‘bone marrow trephine’.
You might feel a bit drowsy afterwards, so you should take a family member or friend along who can take you home. A small dressing or plaster over the biopsy site can be removed the next day. There may be some mild bruising or discomfort, which usually is managed effectively by paracetamol. More serious complications such as bleeding or infection are very rare.
Waiting around for tests can be both stressful and boring. Remember to ask beforehand how long the test will take and what to expect afterwards. You might like to bring a book, some music or a friend for company and support.
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