Biopsy false negative possible?

Tim123 · New User Joined: 19 Oct 2007 Posts: 8

Hi Everyone,

I'm new to this forum and to cancer and thought to call upon the experience of the group to answer a question.

My Mother was recently diagnosed with colon cancer, at least we think she was. Her blood count was low enough to suggest internal bleeding. The did a colonoscopy and found a 4 cm polyp. The doctor who did the colonoscopy has 30 years experience and says that visually it appears certain that the polyp is cancerous and needs to be removed surgically. But then the biopsy results came back negative for cancer.

So has anyone encountered a situation where a biopsy result was negative, but the polyp was still cancerous? Is it possible that the biopsy was taken from a non-cancerous area of the polyp and that cancer is still present elsewhere?

I've read that any polyp that reaches 2 cm or great is at great risk of becoming cancer if not already. So regardless, the polyp still needs to be removed. Surgery is booked. It would offer a bit of peace of mind though if we were to find out that the biopsy result is conclusive and that, although my mom has a 4 cm polyp, she does not have cancer.

Thanks kindly, for reading my post and offering any opinions.

Warm regards,

Tim

brainman · Last edited by brainman on Tue Oct 23, 2007 1:44 pm; edited 1 time in total

Hi Tim, I am very sorry about your mother's ambiguous condition. The simple answer to your question is "Yes, a false negative is possible." By the nature of a biopsy, the piece of the abnormality that is tested can and sometime does show no signs of cancer cells. The odd vary from one cancer to the next and I am not sure how likely a false negative is for colon cancer.

It does sound like your mother's medical team is moving in the right direction: remove the polyp and do a more thorough pathology of it. Regardless of whether or not it is cancerous, that would be the next step.

I will be thinking about and praying for you and your mother.
_________________
Jim
Site Administrator and long-term cancer survivor
1992 Astrocytoma grade 2, left motor strip
2005 Recurrence this time said to be an Oligodendoglioma grade 3, same location.
My Story Part 1: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?p=7350
My Story Part 2: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=8029
Blog http://jimhawkinsport.blogspot.com/

Tim123 · New User Joined: 19 Oct 2007 Posts: 8

Thanks Jim! Really appreciate your kind words. Mom is proceeding with the plan for surgery and we are talking about lifestyle changes to prevent recurrence. All the best to you.

With gratitude,

Tim

In

Tim.

Just wanted to say hi and thinking of you all. Hope the opp. goes well and things improve. Your positive and it shows.

Take Care of yourself too.
_________________
Thinking of you Inica

**Administrator**

~Nose Cancer~
~Car Accident- Broken Back, Ribs, Spleen
Sternum~
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http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=6731

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Tim123 · New User Joined: 19 Oct 2007 Posts: 8

Thanks Inica so much for your support. Mom is well and taking steps to prepare for surgery. I wish you well also.

Tim

PammySue51 · Regular Joined: 18 Dec 2007 Posts: 12 Location: Ohio

I know this is an old post, but YES a false negative is definitely possible. I know. It happened to me. Crying or Very sad

I had NUMEROUS biopsies and all of the came back negative. When I was sent home from the hospital after having a colostomy (surgery for tumor removal was scheduled), I developed a severe -- usually fatal -- condition called necrotizing fasciitis (flesh-eaing bacteria) which nearly cost me my life...at the very least I should have lost my leg...due to the tumor leaking through my pelvis and into my leg.

Please read my blog if you want to know the whole story.

So...the short answer YES IT IS POSSIBLE!

Pam
_________________
Pam
stage IV colorectal cancer with mets to liver and lung - dx 9/06
6 months FOLFOX6 + Avastin completed 6/07
Xeloda since 6/07 with Avastin recently added again.
http://pamsmiraculouscancerblog.blogspot.com

Tim123 · New User Joined: 19 Oct 2007 Posts: 8

Thanks Pam, for your post. I should have posted myself following mom's surgery. She did in fact have colon cancer. A good sized cancerous polyp. The good news is no cancer in the lymph nodes. A little surprise was news of a possible genetic issue and so it's been recommended that mom have genetic testing. If her results are positive, I'm assuming any children and siblings will want to also be tested. Just now starting to learn more about what all this means.

Anyway, thanks again for your post and I wish you well with your health. And happy holidays.

Tim

brainman

Hi Tim, I am glad that your mother's cancer is contained. Most cancers do not have proven genetic links. Unfortunately, colon cancer is one the has. So it is a good idea for your family to talk with your own physicians and have more frequent than normal examinations.

Best wishes and a Merry Christmas to you.
_________________
Jim
Site Administrator and long-term cancer survivor
1992 Astrocytoma grade 2, left motor strip
2005 Recurrence this time said to be an Oligodendoglioma grade 3, same location.
My Story Part 1: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?p=7350
My Story Part 2: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=8029
Blog http://jimhawkinsport.blogspot.com/

Tim123 · New User Joined: 19 Oct 2007 Posts: 8

Thanks Jim! Warm wishes to you and yours at this time.

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