Three cancers that should never be poked (biopsied)

Health experts have cautioned that biopsy may carry risks in certain suspected cancers, potentially spreading malignant cells. Dr Priyam Bordoloi highlighted testicular cancer, Wilms tumour in children and ovarian cancer as cases requiring careful diagnostic approaches, with treatment decisions guided by specialists

Hyderabad: While tissue biopsies remain the gold standard for diagnosing cancers, medical experts warn that puncturing certain tumors can inadvertently cause cancer cells to spread, turning localized cancers into advanced stages.

Noted health communicator and internal medicine specialist, Dr Priyam Bordoloi recently took to social media to highlight three major kinds of cancers that should never be confirmed through biopsy.

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Biopsy is the traditional way of confirming almost all the cancers. In biopsies, a small piece of the malignancy is collected and then tested in the laboratory for cancer cells. But, according to Dr Priyam, in a few rare cases, poking the tumor with a needle is the worst possible action, as it can actually rupture the cancer open and spread it to the rest of the body.

Dr Priyam pointed out that testicular cancer should not be biopsied. Highlighting the risk of poking such a cancer, he noted “A needle alters how the body’s fluid drains. Instead of staying contained, cancer cells can get dragged into new lymph nodes in the groin. Therefore, remove the whole testicle surgically upfront”.

The second tumour that should never be poked is Wilms Tumor (Kidney Cancer in Children), Dr Priyam said. “This tumor has a very fragile outer shell. Puncturing it risks bursting it like a water balloon, spilling cancer cells into the abdomen. This turns an early, curable tumor into an advanced one needing heavy radiation”.

Ovarian cancer should also never be biopsied.  “If a suspicious ovarian cyst is poked, it can pop and leak cancer fluid all over the inside of the belly. As a result, it instantly transforms a localized, highly curable case into one that suddenly demands chemotherapy,” Dr Priyam said.