liver biopsy

[Gorgeousness]

Howdy!

Has anyone has a liver biopsy before?

My onc has told me I need one to determine if status of tumour has changed.

Any tips? Preparation advice? Pain relief suggestions?

Thanks 💕

[Silver126]

Hello! I had one on the 20th of July. It was absolutely painless and very quick. I left the hospital after about three hours. I had a moderate pain afterwards that was handled with high dosage paracetamol (no other pain killer because of blood cloth risk). They told me to rest for about 72 hours. Now waiting for results….

[Gorgeousness in reply to Silver126]

Thank you. ❤️ The relief I’m feeling now is immense. Thank you. I’m so nervous about this procedure for some reason. I hope you get your results quickly. Waiting for them is THE worse. x

[IrishsetterMom in reply to Gorgeousness]

I had liver biopsy back in April. Procedure not bad and they will make sure that you are under. Get a little bit of pain med before you leave the hospital to help ward off general discomfort. Insist on genomic testing that will tell you any clinical trials that you are eligible for.

[Gorgeousness in reply to IrishsetterMom]

Thank you. I’m not in hospital - just a scanning centre so no general anaesthetic. Argh! I’ll be fine.

[IrishsetterMom in reply to Gorgeousness]

They will still sedate you enough where you won’t “remember” what they are doing. Insist that they make sure you are out of it. Then, when you wake up, get a little bit of pain meds to ease discomfort. I’ve had 2 biopsies. It doesn’t hurt when you wake up since they give you the sedative but you are a little sore later. They can give a wee bit stronger pain med while you are there if you ask for a tiny bit.

[Gorgeousness in reply to IrishsetterMom]

Good advice / thank you. I appreciate your advice! They didn’t sedate me for port insertion. Strange they’d do it for this? But I’m ready to go in and get this done. 🤞🤞 Thank you x

[IrishsetterMom in reply to Gorgeousness]

Good luck! They might call it “twilight” something instead of sedation. Just tell them you don’t want to know or hear details and they will accommodate.

[kearnan in reply to Silver126]

May I ask what a liver biopsy is and why they would do one. Mine is now also in my liver and I have two tumors that have doubled in size and a "baby" (I thought I had one tumor all this time). I am now very scared bc she changed the treatment to tamoxifen and afinitor and it appears from the bloodwork she said that these meds are not working.

So now she moved up my CT SCAN 45 days before I was scheduled to have one. I think she knows it is not working. I am just curious to know why they would do a liver biopsy. I have no faith in my onco anymore at all. What would be the purpose of a biopsy. I learn more from this board than I do from my onco. I kept saying to her "Why did I not know that there were two tumors and both doubled in size. I was under the belief I had one and referred to as THe tumor and she never corrected me. She said something about it may be treatment resistant and I know what that means. Just curious why they would do a biopsy on the liver? Thank you.

[Gorgeousness in reply to kearnan]

Sorry to hear your issues with oncologist. They’re doing my biopsy because my other lesions are responding to treatment but this one isn’t - so they think it’s now her2 positive. The scans can’t show the receptor but a biopsy can.

[kearnan in reply to Gorgeousness]

I learn something new every day. Unfortunately, cancer and the meds are now controlling me.

[IrishsetterMom in reply to kearnan]

You should request a liver biopsy. It will tell you what the Er/Pr/her2 receptors are and help guide you to the best treatment of this area. Genomic testing of the biopsy will also tell you of any trials you might be eligible for based on your specific mutations.

[13plus in reply to kearnan]

I agree with IrishsetterMom that you would be very wise to ask for a biopsy. If it's true the new meds are not working it will definitely improve your chances of getting the best options for you.

[Debbigbang in reply to kearnan]

Nothing was working for my liver, just kept growing. Now on xeloda and that shrank it 2 on the first ct scan. Next scan in a couple of weeks. Looking for positive results as well.

Deb 🙏❤

[Silver126]

A liver biopsy is done to see if primary cancer changed during time. In a different spot and after treatments it might be her2+ and no more hr+ for example. They can also use tissues to check possibile genetic mutations and choose target therapies if available. Was it never mentioned by your oncologist?

[Tmbj]

Hi I had a liver biopsy done last September i was awake and they gave me a local anesthetic. All I felt was a slight pressure when the carried out the biopsy. I had to lay flat for a few hours afterwards and then was able to go home. Rest up for 72 hours afterwards. I had minimal discomfort just a little tender like a bruise where the needle entered. Take care 🤗🤗

[Gorgeousness]

Thanks for all your responses and help preparing me! Very painless. No sedative. Just local anaesthetic. Now to wait for results. 🤞🙏💕

[cpidacks]

I had a liver biopsy in 2019. The radiologist told me exactly what he was going to do during the biopsy. I was not sedated, just given a local anesthesia. There was a nurse by my side monitoring my blood pressure and pain. I was given some pain med. I had to stay in recovery for a few hours to be monitored and then was able to go home. I was told to take it easy for a few days. Good luck.

[valentinecalico in reply to cpidacks]

this sounds like my story.......local anaesthetic but not sedated. I was talking to the radiologist as they did it - my tumor was above the gut so they wouldn't do a biopsy in case they perforated the gut. So they did a needle aspiration - and unfortunately they didn't get enough cells to test. But the biopsy itself was pretty painless. Good luck to you.

[kearnan in reply to cpidacks]

Why did they do a liver biopsy. I have always assumed that every CT scan I get that they can tell it is breast cancer.

[cpidacks in reply to kearnan]

I had a liver biopsy to determine if the tumor was cancerous. It showed breast cancer cells.

[Debbigbang]

Hi I had a biopsy couple of months ago. I to was trying to determine why liver tumor kept growing with meds I was taking. It ended up, it is the same type and now on xeloda which is shrinking the tumor.

I had no issues with the biopsy, no pain or discomfort. Nothing to prepare for.

Deb 🙏❤

[bubblystream]

I had two liver biopsies. My friend told me it would be easy. I doubted her. But she was correct. It took most of my day, but procedure itself is only a few minutes with no real pain. My onc said the liver doesn’t have nerves in it to cause pain. It was so easy that I agreed to another one 4 months later for a study that did on me. I didn’t have to do it again but it was so painless that I decided to be a good patient and help them out. Pam.

[U2Rocks]

I was very worried too but during the procedure they spoke to me and eased me. It didn’t take long and didn’t hurt.

[atoth17]

Hi, I had one at the very beginning of my diagnosis and it was very uneventful. Whatever meds they gave me before were sufficient in my recovery. I don't remember any pain but I remember being told not to lift much for a week or two and to take it easy for a few days. Good luck!

[goat2017]

Hi, Yes I have had a liver biopsy. Not completely knocked out but felt nothing. No pain after. Went about my business right after the procedure. Please don't be nervous,it's not a big deal. I am 80 years old and have been through a lot but the biopsy was a breeze.Good luck and think positive.