If you have had ( 2 ) specailist tell you that a liver byopsy is not always necessary ???????? Who has the HEP/C You? or them? I would demand a byopsy anyways sister.Its YOUR LIFE!!! MY own Liver Transplant Surgeon has told me a Byopsy says it all for him to know whats up with me. I know that everybody is different sister. But Do you have a piece of mind from thier answers to you????? I have had 3 byopsy's so far. 2 of them in the last 2 months. Im still here!! I have a piece of mind from them. ( WHATS LEFT OF IT ) At least I know the truth sister. Think about it. Its your life not there's. I hope that this helps. Respects to you!!!

my gastro told me the same, but i question his word too. he says the biopsy may do more damage than good
and that it isnt necessarily accurate in that 6 different tissue samples could bring back 6 different results. he was gonna send me for a biopsy but changed his mind for that reason. instead, he's sending me for a fibrosure test or HA test, which is a blood test that he says is just as or more accurate than the biopsy and is non-invasive.
copy and paste these links and read their stats: http://www.mlwmagazine.com/story.asp?sectionCode=10&storyCode=2031121

http://www.comparative-hepatology.com/content/4/1/6

on that note, i'm no medic and bearing in mind that i'm still v new to hepc (dx sept 07) i have a lot to learn. i am learning tho and who better to learn from than those with experience? there are lotsa ppl in this community with a vast amount of knowledge, which has been gained from personal experience and, as far as i'm concerned, they should know. personally, i would listen to them b4 any doc cos they have lived it. its good you have the choice. here, we dont get a choice. our docs send us for whatever tests they deem necessary and we dont get a say in the matter. as you have that choice, i agree with tattman, its your life, not theirs. you gotta do whats best for you.
whatever you decide, good luck my friend and try not to worry too much. try to stay positive and keep smiling cos smiling does help to lighten the burden.

an MRI will not pick up liver damage I know I had one it should nothing. The liver biospy is the piece of liver that tells the story. Yes , you need one, unless your liver funtions are nornal. AST. ALt and others but I doubt they are.

The responses are interesting -i'm in Australia & have been told that liver biopsy's are no longer routine prior to starting tx. Maybe i should question that with my doc. Certainly my LFT wasn't normal! You'd think regardless of where you are it's important to get the best tx!

My liver specialist is the only one in our state that has been taking care of Hep C patients since 1979, A biopsy will give you proof of how much liver damage. I am sure a blood test can only speculate. I had my blood work done several times and twice sent out of the country.. We still did a biopsy.. Once again, I think it has to do with money. I am glad I had my biopsy. I know exactly where I stand. NO guessing, no I am not sure but... or looks like... They went straight to the liver and found out. I say for your sake do more research. Good Luck honey!!! will be thinkin of ya in my prayers...Big Hugs... ang

I was to 2 gast. that specialize with Hep C. I was told I do not need a biop. My Dr. said if I would have been Hep C - grade 1 -he would have done one. I am Hep C grade 2 so they both said it is not necessary. I have mixed emotions too.

RynetteB

I don't think you should say that normal ALT/AST mean you don't have a problem so dont' need a biopsy.
So, not true!
My ALT/AST were quite low/normal and that was part of the reason for the delay in my dx.
I still say that you should always get a biopsy to see what's happening in your liver. If you want to do that fibrosure test as well, if you want to compare (and some people do that) then by all means do that.
Ultimately you want to get as much info as possible.
Why no biopsy if you have type 2 or 3, I don't get it. I suppose because the tx is only 6months and the odds of clearing are very high, I guess it's OK.
Doing fine on tx has nothing to do with having a biopsy. I look on the biopsy as a snapshot of your liver at a point in time. From there, you can decide if you want to do tx or if you can afford to wait. How can you make a decision if you don't know if your liver is in bad shape or not? Can someone tell me how you can know your stage/grade for sure without the biopsy?

Thank you all for sharing your experience and thoughts on this subject. Your support gives me hope I can get through this. This is lot of food for thought here. Tat's saying Who has the HEP/C You? Or them? Made me remember something else the University Doctor said that slipped my mind. He mentioned the liver test was also expensive which as ang40 mentions it had to do with money. That is certainly a question to ask if they think I don't need a liver biopsy if it is due to me having no insurance just Community Health and cost. I am hoping to qualify for a program that would be free per the Universities research. That is kind of scary as from what I have heard you are some what of a guinea pig. With you all sharing I feel like I can when the time comes to not just put my life in the doctors hands without understanding why he makes certain decisions which will give me more peace of mind.