Naked Science Forum

Life Sciences => Physiology & Medicine => Topic started by: Carolyn on 07/09/2008 04:57:59

Title: Are Biopsies Dangerous?
Post by: Carolyn on 07/09/2008 04:57:59

I read today that if cancer is present, that a biopsy can spread the cancer.  Is this true and if so, is there another way, a safer and perhaps less expensive way to detect cancer?

Title: Are Biopsies Dangerous?
Post by: Karen W. on 07/09/2008 07:33:15

When my Mom had gotten sick they did tell her that anytime a surgery or biopsy was done where there was cancer it could potentially spread the cancer! Now this was 1993 and I am not a Doctor but was with her when hers told her this.. so I have always believed what he said.. He was her oncologist. Her cancer did spread and metastasize quickly after her biopsies of the lymph glands.. and they were clear of cancerous cells but she soon was wracked with cancer... I am no expert so cannot say why hers spread we were told the Radiation killed it but within two weeks of last radiation.. The Cancer had been detected within an less just less then an inch below her radiation tattoos with it gone everywhere else.. It spread fast...The radiation had either missed it or it metastasized down into her spine area below the mark.

 I would like to know the answer to that also... update my information about other ways .. I know blood tests can help do this also.. but I think sometimes biopsies are necessary. I wonder how often.. is it just with lumps?

Title: Are Biopsies Dangerous?
Post by: RD on 07/09/2008 15:32:22

Quote from: Karen W. on 07/09/2008 07:33:15

Her cancer did spread and metastasize quickly after her biopsies of the lymph glands...

A possible alternative explanation of this timetable is that tiny secondary tumours had already been seeded around the body by the time the primary tumour had grown big enough to be detected, i.e. the secondaries still would have occurred without the biopsy.

Title: Are Biopsies Dangerous?
Post by: Carolyn on 15/09/2008 22:52:51

What I read was that cancer cells could be seeded along needle biopsy tracks and they may loosen cancer cells to float through the bloodstream or lymph system and set up secondary tumors at other sites.

Is this information accurate?  It came from a 'cure cancer naturally' site and so I don't know how true it is, but it certainly is more than a little frightening.

Also would still like to know if there is a safer, less invasive way to detect cancer.

Title: Are Biopsies Dangerous?
Post by: Karen W. on 16/09/2008 00:23:08

Perhaps Blood tests cat scans X-rays etc.. but I think they would be less reliable in a very early stage mightn't they?

Title: Are Biopsies Dangerous?
Post by: RD on 16/09/2008 00:50:45

It is possible that biopsy or surgery could release cancer cells into the bloodstream or lymphatic system,
but rejecting biopsy and surgery will probably result in a poorer prognosis, (shorter life expectancy).

e.g. here are statistics on breast cancer survival,  evidently early diagnosis is a good idea...

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http://info.cancerresearchuk.org/cancerstats/types/breast/survival/


PS
Be very sceptical of anything labelled "natural": bear in mind that disease and death are both "natural".

Title: Are Biopsies Dangerous?
Post by: Carolyn on 16/09/2008 00:54:36

Thank you for the information.

Title: Are Biopsies Dangerous?
Post by: RD on 16/09/2008 05:39:07

Here is a link to a (controversial) BMJ article on needle biopsies,
(it does list alternative methods to detect cancer)...

http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/328/7438/507