Cancer is usually diagnosed through biopsy. It is performed under anesthesia and requires removing tissue samples from a tumor. The samples are examined under a microscope by a pathologist to determine if and what type of cancer is present.
There is some controversy over whether or not biopsy spreads cancer. Any invasive procedure and scans high in radiation can cause harm.
All cells are surrounded by fluid that drains into the lymph system eventually leading into a blood vessel.
Any procedure using a scalpel or needle will result in some bleeding, sometimes releasing cancer cells into the bloodstream. The cells can then travel to other parts of the body and may grow and possibly become malignant. This process is referred to as “seeding.”
Not all biopsies are the same. The procedure for biopsies in tumors near the skin surface are much less invasive. Other types of tumors will require more invasive surgery. With laproscopic surgery, incisions are very small, but do not always show the whole picture.
After studying patients, researchers at the Ft. Lauderdale, Florida Mayo Clinic determined that biopsy or tumor aspirate spread of cancer is very rare.
The subject of whether biopsy spreads cancer continues to be researched.
As pet parents and lay people, we must sort out the information we receive and in the end, go with out gut feelings. Whatever we choose for our pets, they know we do so out of our deep love for them.
