Can a biopsy or surgical removal of a tumor cause cancer to spread?

Question

What is the likelyhood that cancer will spread it a tumor is ruptured?

Answer 1

Not exactly.

Surgery and biopsies are done hundreds and thousands of times with no problems whatsoever. But, every once in awhile you may get a general surgeon who is not familiar with cancer and he removes a malignant tumor. He may think it is just a benign tumor because he is not experienced enough. This may cause problems for that patient because the surgeon fails to obtain 'adequate margins' surrounding the malignancy. As you know cancer can spread and it only takes one microscopic cell to migrate and start the whole process over again. If the surgeon does not obtain complete removal with adequate margins he runs the risk of leaving malignant cells behind. In other words he doesn't get it all. An oncological surgeon, on the other hand, is a specialist and skilled enough to know how to handle this type of surgery. They have done successful cancer surgeries thousands of times and know what to do.

If an oncological surgeon cannot remove the whole tumor or get adequate margins, they can 'cauterize' the area sometimes using radiation or heated chemotherapy or other tools to minimize the risks. If a surgeon accidently cuts into a tumor . . and there is spillage . . again there are tools to cauterize or minimize the risk. If an oncological surgeon suspects that there might be difficulties in getting those clean margins or to minimize the risk of microscopic cells getting into an incision . . they may use radiation or chemo applied directly around the area. What you should know is that an oncologist surgeons, if the are good, know exactly what they are doing.

If you are really curious about surgery and how it is done there are online video broadcasts that show real operations. You can watch some of them at Wakeforest University Medical Center. There is an hour long video of hyperthermic chemoperfusion:
http://www1.wfubmc.edu/cancer/Videos+and+Webcasts/

Or, you can find online medical or surgical broadcast at:

OR Live - Home of live surgical video on the Internet
http://or-live.com/

Please keep in mind that for the majority of malignant tumors the most effective means to a 'cure' is the total surgical removal of all cancer. So, whatever minimal risk is present . . it is worth it.

Answer 2

It depends on where the primary cancer occurred. Certain organs are so friable that there is no way to excise the tumor without seeding the body with metastases. Pancreatic cancer is like that, though the nature of pancreatic cancer is such that by the time the condition is diagnosed, the cancer is almost always at Stage IV (distant metastases). Other ca's with this problem include ovarian and some forms of brain cancer.

In other words, without knowing whether this is a primary or metastatic tumor, and where the ca originated, the question can't be answered.

Answer 3

Yes, this is a good question and is still under debate in the medical fields. What you described is often called "seeding" of the cancer. Although, logically possible, it is highly unlikely--even more so for a surgical excision because that typically means the entire cancerous area is taken out. As for a fine needle aspiration biopsy, it is more likely of "seeding" because of the withdrawl of the needle but highly, highly unlikely. Either way, if you have a tumor (esp. malignant), it's better to remove it than to leave it alone thinking that it may spread because of the procedure.

Answer 4

My brother had a kidney w/tumor removed and the surgeon thought he got it all He told my brother he was cancer free and didn't need chemo. My brother got sicker and sicker and the Dr only prescribed OTC pain meds. After 3 months my brother couldn't stand the pain and changed doctors. A CT scan showed tumors. A PET scan showed his liver and abdominal cavity filled with tumors. The biggest tumor was under his skin at the incision site obviously "seeded" when the tumor touched the opening. He was given 9 mos. He died in less than 6 wks. The surgery disturbed tumor and made it spread. Please don't trust what doctors say as always being right! They are often DEAD wrong.

Answer 5

If your biopsy shows cancer you would be scheduled for surgery and referred to a specials who deals with this type of cancer.

Answer 6

There are certain cancers that are inoperable, I think those are the kinds that spread like wildfire if one were to have surgery. But there are many different types of cancer and I don't know that much about cancer to tell you anymore. Good luck. 2D

Answer 7

I have always heard that it can cause spreading. Talk to your doctor about your concerns. Sometimes we just have to weigh the pros and cons of a situation like this..

Answer 8

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God bless you!