Huntil now,A biopsy is the only test that can definitively diagnose cancer. However, because biopsies are often performedconsiderdangerous and he saidcan spread cells-cell cancer, some people are reluctant to do it. Is it true that a biopsy is dangerous?
A biopsy is a procedure of taking a small piece of tissue from the patient's body for examination using a microscope. Through a biopsy, doctors can find out whether a person has cancer or not, and whether a lump is a malignant tumor (cancerous) or a benign tumor.
Physical examinations and investigations, such as CT-scans or X-rays, can indeed predict the presence of cancer, but only a biopsy can confirm the diagnosis of cancer and show the type of cancer cells and their stage. After the type of tumor is known, the new doctor can determine the treatment to be given.
Biopsy Effectiveness
In one study, it was found that biopsies had a 90% accuracy in diagnosing cancer. The results of the biopsy will greatly assist doctors in planning treatment according to the type and stage of the patient's cancer. The results of the biopsy can determine whether the patient needs to undergo surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, or not to undergo any treatment.
Another study showed that people with cancer who underwent a biopsy had a higher rate of treatment success. This is presumably because biopsy plays an important role in helping doctors determine the appropriate type of treatment, so that the treatment success rate is also greater.
Some Types of Biopsy Often done
Biopsy can be done with or without the help of other examination tools, such as CT-scan, MRI, and ultrasound. Some of the most common types of biopsies are:
- Biopsy using a needle, either a small needle (fine needle aspiration biopsy) and larger needles (core needle biopsy).
- Surgical biopsy, if the position of the tumor is difficult to reach with a needle.
- Endoscopic biopsy, in which the doctor inserts a small tube with a camera to view the inside of the body's organs and take tissue samples, for example from the intestines or from the urinary tract.
- Biopsy by scraping tissue from the skin surface.
Risiko General Biopsy
Any medical procedure that injures tissue carries a risk of infection and bleeding. Based on the results of a study that monitored 1025 biopsy procedures, only 79 cases experienced these side effects. That is, the risk of side effects from the biopsy is only about 7 percent.
The risk of side effects from a biopsy depends on the severity of the cancer and the type of biopsy. In advanced stages of cancer that have experienced complications, biopsy has a higher risk. More aggressive biopsy procedures, such as surgical biopsies, of course also carry a higher risk than needle biopsies.
Biopsy and Spread of Cancer Cells
Many people also think that a biopsy can make cancer cells spread, so the patient's condition will be worse after a biopsy. Some studies do show the spread of cancer cells to the area around the biopsy needle puncture wound or to other parts of the body, but it is not known with certainty whether these cancer cells will then develop and cause cancer in a new location.
The possibility of a biopsy spreading cancer cells is said to be very low and can be minimized in certain ways, for example not using the same biopsy needle for multiple cancer sites.
A biopsy does have risks, including causing pain and tingling at the biopsy site. However, the benefits of a biopsy still far outweigh the risks, so the biopsy remains one of the most important procedures in the treatment of cancer.
If you are still worried, ask your doctor for more details, and if after the biopsy you have a fever, severe pain, or bleeding in the area of the biopsy, see a doctor immediately.
Written by:
dr. Irene Cindy Sunur
