Would Xgeva affect a bone biopsy?

[Gl448]

Just curious.. My MO plans to put me on Xgeva, but not until after they biopsy the met in my acetabulum next month.

Xgeva shouldn’t affect the cancer directly. Would it just strengthen the bone and make it more difficult to get the sample?

[Seasid]

Why don't you just simply ask your oncologist this question?

[Gl448 in reply to Seasid]

I will be at my next appointment. But it’s just a curiosity not the kind of question I feel worthy of its own contact with her.

[Seasid]

During chemotherapy you also should not perform a biopsy as your immune system wouldn't deal with a possibility of an infection.

No biopsy during chemotherapy.

Denosumab (Xgeva) can also mess up your immune system. If you don't believe consult dr Google about the side effects toxicity of denosumab. Biopsies are not walking in the park. What is your PSA now? Could you do liquid biopsies instead?

If your PSA is above 5 or even better 10 than you could get Guardant 360 liquid biopsy if you have enough money. In Australia it would cost you 5000 A$.

[Gl448 in reply to Seasid]

I just started reading about garden yesterday. $1000. US was the price that got in my head for out of pocket. I’m going to see if my insurance covers it and what the co-pay is, but I’d gladly pay $1k or a bit more for it if it really would make a difference

From what you say about PSA, I may not be a good candidate for it since my latest PSA was just 3.8.

[Seasid in reply to Gl448]

Then don't spend your own money on they biopsy. Of course if insurance pays that why not, still you may not have much benefits out of that guardant 360