Little off topic, liver biopsy

Not much help in the biopsy department, but...

Hi, Kim,

I'm not much help in the biopsy department, but my dad had hemochromatosis. In the last few years, a physician - in doing the intake exam - asked, "What kind of hemochromatosis?" Well I didn't know they were doing varietals now! Back when he was diagnosed, you either had it or you didn't, so I wasn't much help. It can be a little scary BUT at least there are some treatments nowadays (although we were always a little disappointed he didn't get leaches, 'cause we thought that would be way cool - I think they were doing that somewhere in Europe in the '60s). 

May the biopsy be no biggie, may your recovery be swift, and may Uncle Ned (No evidence of disease) be one of your first visitors after you get the news. 

Jerzy

For what it's worth...

Yes, biopsies in liver, but the surgeon was already in there removing the cancerous kidney and left lobe of liver with RCC mets.  He removed a number of wedges for right lobe, which turned out to have benign cysts.

But I have had fine needle aspiration biopsies to test for cancer, and I think they pretty much operate the way your's will in the liver.

And ultrasonographer will assist the Radiologist with the location of what is to be biopsied.  Once everything is lined up, the Rad will insert a long, hollow, fine needle into the area to be sampled.  He will tell you you'll fell pressure on the skin, and hear a click as the mechanism in the needle takes the sample, and then it's removed and put on a slide.  He may need to take 2-3 from different angles.  Slap a bandage on and go home to wait for path report.

The year after the kidney cancer surgery, a single node had enlarged behind where the kidney had been.  Biopsy was positive, so had node removed surgically.

About 4 years later the CT caught my thyroid at the top of the screen and I had enlarged nodes.  Using the same procedure as described above, they were all biopsied and Dx'd as benign nodes.  Yay.

Contrary to the fears many have of a needle biopsy releasing cancer cells into the body, it's probably not a reality.  Can't swear 100%, but most recurrences are with cells that have already spread from the initial site, and long ago but were not recognizable on any mechanical test or to the naked eye.

I think this year's flu shot makes your arm more sore than any of the biopsies.  So don't be worried about recovery time.

Good luck and keep us posted.

donna_lee

My husband had liver biopsy

My husband had liver biopsy due to hepatitis. It was a very easy and painless procedure. The most difficult was to lie still for some time after that. He went home the same day and had no complications at all.

Good luck!

NTI

nothing to it Kim.