It's Your arm?.....well better than your foot I suppose!

That is a first for me to read, you would think that they could tell the difference.

Upon reading several sites regarding needle biopsy of the lung, it would appear that your best bet is to have a CT guided biopsy that does not transverse the lung. In otherwords if the needle dosen't pierce the lung (only the tumor) the risk of collapsed lung is very small. One site suggested that the overall risk of a collapsed lung is between 25% and 50%.

As for the spread of the tumor, that is a question that will probably spur debate. Search the web for additional information that you can ponder. I think it is only logical that if the cancer is well encapsulated then puncturing it will create a path for tumor cells to leak. Whether or not those leaked cells take hold and cause spread is the matter of debate. If it were me I would ask the doctors if there is another diagnostic tecnique that would work or discuss if surgery to remove the tumor without the intermediate biopsy is possible.

Mark, 21 Year survivor, SCC right tonsil, 3 nodes positive, one with extra-capsular spread. I never asked what stage (would have scared me anyway) Right side tonsillectomy, radical neck dissection right side, maximum radiation to both sides, no chemo, no PEG, age 40 when diagnosed.