Liver biopsy ??

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Anonymous
Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
edited October 2021 in Not Diagnosed With a Recurrence or Metastases but Concerned
Liver biopsy ??
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  • Ggloves6
    Ggloves6 Member Posts: 7
    edited October 2020

    Hey Ladies!

    I’m new here and a little worried. My scans showed some nodules on my lungs and an indeterminate lesion on my liver that my MO wants to biopsy . I’m nervous about the biopsy and the possibility this is Mets right out of the gate . Anyone else have lb experience? And is it always bad news to see questionable things in just liver and lungs ? There was a spot on my sternum as well but he didn’t seem concerned about that but wants to rule out liver . My lymph nodes are negative . Any input would be appreciated!



    Thanks !

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited October 2020

    Scans throw up all sorts of stuff - for instance, I have a lung nodule that no one gave a rats ass about because it was in a location and of the size that suggested it was due to pollution or something other than mets. Couldn't tell you about liver or liver biopsy (although I know there are more than a few ladies this has happened to) but it is good that your MO is proactive and ensuring he gives you the right treatment, despite how nervewracking it can be to be worked up at this early stage. Liver would be more concerning than bone, hence the biopsy, but a single spot on the sternum also seems to come up often, similar to a lung nodule. Its amazing the types of knocks our bodies take over time, and all sorts of incidentals show up when you start scanning.

    Edit - i see you've done the breast MRI, CT, bone scan run - I was told that while the CT showed up some "concerning areas" in my spine, the bone scan was the tie breaker, essentially. Your sternum spot may not have had uptake in the bone scan, despite being seen on the CT, suggesting it likely isn't mets (hence the focus on the liver, which couldn't be ruled out by another imaging approach).

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  • BevJen
    BevJen Member Posts: 2,523
    edited October 2020

    Hi, Ggloves6,

    I'm not sure if you're asking about what could be going on, or what the procedure for a liver biopsy is like. Not a doctor, so I'll stick with the second (the biopsy). In 2019, I had a shadow show up on a CT in my liver, so I had an MRI which showed distinct areas of concern. If you haven't had that liver MRI yet, you might want to ask your doc about it first before you go straight to a biopsy.

    I've had two liver biopsies -- one in 2019 and one just this last week. They were similar. The first was done using CT guidance and the second was done using ultrasound guidance. The actual biopsy is done fairly quickly. My doc uses twilight sedation (like for a colonoscopy) and then finds the lesion and goes in with a needle-like device (or so I've been told -- didn't really watch that part!) It doesn't take long. You can still feel a pinch even with the sedation and I'm two days out now and have a dull pain.

    Hope this helps.


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  • Ggloves6
    Ggloves6 Member Posts: 7
    edited October 2020

    Thanks for your reply ! My bone scan did say“ uptake in sternum suspicious for osseous metastatic disease “ Is this always likely Mets?

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  • BevJen
    BevJen Member Posts: 2,523
    edited October 2020

    Again, I'd ask your doc these questions, but radiologists flag anything that looks suspicious -- thus the wording. Could be mets, maybe not.

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  • Ggloves6
    Ggloves6 Member Posts: 7
    edited October 2020

    Bev Jen ,

    I was wondering about the procedure . The CT scan said several indeterminate lesions and radiologist recommended a MRI for further evaluation. My MO wants to go straight to biopsy . I’m a little worried as you can tell .

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  • BevJen
    BevJen Member Posts: 2,523
    edited October 2020

    Ggloves6,

    I can only go on my own experience, but I would want to know why your MO wants to go directly to a biopsy. The biopsies are normally done by interventional radiologists (at least in my limited experience.) My interventional radiologist has told me that an MRI of the abdomen/liver w/wo contrast is the best modality for actually visualizing any lesions in the liver. This would be pre-biopsy (as I said before, my two biopsies were done by CT and sonogram).

    In my experience it's very difficult to get in touch with radiologists -- but your MO could do it. If it were me, I'd ask the MO why you wouldn't do the MRI first. That way, they could see if there is one lesion that they might target, especially if the CT scan said "indeterminate lesions."

    Are you are a teaching hospital (NCI/NCCN)? You could always go for a second opinion. There is no reason to jump right to the biopsy unless you are satisfied that that's what you should be doing. A liver biopsy isn't horrible, but it's invasive, and it's no picnic, either, whereas an MRI of your abdomen/liver is really not bad and could provide more clarity to your situation.

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  • Ggloves6
    Ggloves6 Member Posts: 7
    edited October 2020

    BevJen,

    I am at a teaching hospital. The ct did specify the one lesion they want to biopsy since the other two were looking like hemangiomas or cysts . I just thought the biopsy was invasive and I’m a little scared of it. This has just been so overwhelming to me and I’m sure you know what I mean . I can’t help but worry that the only places they found anything worrisome was sternum, lungs and liver and that just happens to be common met sites . My mind goes to the worst scenario. I just keep trying to look on the positive side that my MO said he didn’t lean either way on malignant/ benign. He was 50/50. I’m also trying to be positive that my lymph nodes were clear and there was no vascular involvement and these are just my weird body abnormalities . Thank you for your insight

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  • BevJen
    BevJen Member Posts: 2,523
    edited October 2020

    Ggloces6

    Yes, the whole process can be very scary and very disconcerting. But better to know what's going on. There are many treatments today that can be very helpful. And there is lots of info on BCO to help you find out about treatments if indeed your cancer has spread.

    Good luck and keep us updated.

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  • Sophie84
    Sophie84 Member Posts: 1
    edited October 2021

    hey, gosh I’m going through something similar and wondered if you have an update. I’m hoping everything has turned out ok for you.

    I had my annual MRI last week. Had a call on Tues to say breasts both fine however there was some uptake in a focal area in my sturnum. To say I’m crapping myself would be an understatement.

    Apparently the radiologist, in her notes has said slight focal uptake in sternum but her assessment of this is that it’s inconclusive. I’ve been told that this means she honestly doesn’t know what it is. Which I suppose means it could be a number of things. I also know MRIs are sensitive but not specific and that the uptake might just be a result of an injury or inflammation or even bone thinning in the sternum as I have been on zolodex and letrozole for now close to 2 years.

    Anyway - I’m being sent for PET tomorrow which will hopefully get to the bottom of it.

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  • KBeee
    KBeee Member Posts: 5,109
    edited October 2021

    Call your doc and ask the risks versus benefits of MRI versus biopsy. If the answer is that they want to biopsy it regardless then you hav eyour answer. Sorry you are facing this, but the biopsy will bring you more definitive results than MRI. Thinking of you and hoping the results of the biopsy are benign. Keep us posted.

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