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David,
In my thinking, there's little reason to do a biopsy unless your symptoms have changed. If cellularity is decreasing or dysplasia is increasing in your marrow, you'd expect your blood counts (and probably the way you feel) to reflect the problem, and that would be a sign to get the biopsy test. Conversely, if changes in your bone marrow don't produce any new or changed symptoms, then you'd probably continue your "wait and watch" approach, so the test wasn't necessary.
Do you think your doctor would agree?
Of course, if biopsies were 100% safe, 100% discomfort-free, 100% side-effect-free, and 100% cost-free (like taking your temperature), then I'd say "why not?" But that's not the case.
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Founder of Marrowforums and caregiver for my wife
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