Bone Marrow Aspiration
The bone marrow is where all blood cells are produced. This is also the area where cancer cells begin to grow. If results from blood tests are not sufficient for a diagnosis, your doctor may implement a bone marrow aspiration. During this procedure, a thin and long needle is put into the hip area to take a bone marrow sample. This area may be numbed with lidocaine to reduce pain. The sample will be then analyzed in the lab to find out the progression of cancer. If at least 20 percent of cells are lymphoblasts, it may suggest the presence of acute lymphocytic leukemia. [3]
