First, I am sorry to hear of your additional health concerns. As if RSD isn't enough to deal with!

I can relate two experiences in regards to needles. Recently I had botox injections in my neck and my skull in an attempt to allievate pain in those areas. The botox didn't really do anything, and the procedure it self caused a flare.

More invasively, I had a diagnostic LP done a year ago, which caused a massive spread which is still with me.

That said, I would say it's a no brainer that when you are dealing with the potential of cancer, you simply must have these procedures done. There is a chance that nothing negative will result from the procedure, and a flare, while awful, is still just temporary. And a spread is, well, a spread, which would suck.

Make sure your doctors are using 27 gauge needles. The lower the number, the more likely of something negative being the result.

Good luck.

-- Dennis