Should I be worried if I need a breast biopsy?

A biopsy is only recommended if there's a suspicious finding on a mammogram, ultrasound or MRI, or a concerning clinical finding. If a scan is normal and there are no worrisome symptoms, there's no need for a biopsy. If you do need a biopsy, your doctor should discuss which type of biopsy is needed and why.

What percentage of breast biopsies are cancer?

More than 1 million women have breast biopsies each year in the United States. About 20 percent of these biopsies yield a diagnosis of breast cancer.

Is a breast biopsy serious?

Risks associated with a breast biopsy include: Bruising and swelling of the breast. Infection or bleeding at the biopsy site. Altered breast appearance, depending on how much tissue is removed and how the breast heals.

What does it mean if you need a breast biopsy?

Breast Biopsy. If breast symptoms or the results of an imaging test (such as a mammogram) suggest you might have breast cancer, you may need a breast biopsy. During a biopsy, a doctor removes small pieces of breast tissue from the suspicious area so they can be looked at in the lab to see if they contain cancer cells.

Are breast biopsies usually cancer?

A breast biopsy is a common procedure that healthcare providers use to determine if a suspicious area in your breast could be cancer, though approximately 80% of breast biopsy results are not cancer.

What You Need to Know Before a Breast Biopsy

Can a doctor tell if you have cancer without a biopsy?

They may order lab tests, imaging tests (scans), or other tests or procedures. You may also need a biopsy, which is often the only way to tell for sure if you have cancer.

Does cancer spread faster after biopsy?

A long-held belief by a number of patients and even some physicians has been that a biopsy can cause some cancer cells to spread. While there have been a few case reports that suggest this can happen — but very rarely — there is no need for patients to be concerned about biopsies, says Dr. Wallace.

When is a breast biopsy recommended?

Breast biopsies may be done: To check a lump or mass that can be felt (is palpable) in the breast. To check a problem seen on a mammogram, such as small calcium deposits in breast tissue (microcalcifications) or a fluid-filled mass (cyst) To evaluate nipple problems, such as a bloody discharge from the nipple.

What percentage of breast biopsies are normal?

1. Most women who have breast biopsies DO NOT have breast cancer. In fact, about 4 out of 5 breast biopsies are benign (not cancer).

Do they knock you out for a breast biopsy?

You are typically given local anesthesia (numbing medicine), along with intravenous (IV) sedation to make you drowsy. Another option is to have the biopsy done under general anesthesia (where you're given medicine to put you in a deep sleep and not feel pain).

What happens if my breast biopsy is benign?

Fortunately, most breast biopsies come back as "benign". This means that the biopsied area shows no signs of cancer or anything dangerous. When a biopsy comes back with one of these benign diagnoses, no treatment is usually necessary, and we usually recommend returning to routine yearly screening for women over age 40.

How long does it take for a breast biopsy to come back?

Because of this course of action, breast biopsy results typically take 2-3 days to reach the patient but may take up to a week or longer depending on the complexity of the case and the tissue sample. The report will show whether cancer cells were found in your breast.

What happens if my breast biopsy is abnormal?

Abnormal cells found during a breast biopsy have a high risk of becoming cancerous. The younger a woman is when she is diagnosed with atypical hyperplasia, the more likely she is to develop breast cancer later in life.

Does breast cancer spread faster after biopsy?

Preoperative core needle biopsy does not increase local recurrence rate in breast cancer patients.

Can you tell what stage breast cancer is from biopsy?

Your doctor will assign a stage to your cancer after your physical exam and the initial results from your mammogram or other diagnostic imaging test. The stage may be adjusted after lab reports from your breast biopsy or surgery.

How can I stop worrying about biopsy results?

Why did my doctor order a biopsy?

Your doctor may recommend a biopsy if they think you might have cancer. In a biopsy, a doctor takes a small amount of tissue from the area of the body where cancer may be present. The tissue is sent to a laboratory and examined under a microscope for cancer cells by a specialist called a pathologist.

What happens after breast biopsy is positive?

If you have a biopsy resulting in a cancer diagnosis, the pathology report will help you and your doctor talk about the next steps. You will likely be referred to a breast cancer specialist, and you may need more scans, lab tests, or surgery.

Should I get a second opinion before breast biopsy?

Getting a second opinion

You may want to get a second opinion before your biopsy, or after, when you have the results. Most health plans allow you to get a second opinion if the second doctor is in your health plan's network. Learn more about getting a second opinion.

How painful is a core needle breast biopsy?

You may feel discomfort during the procedure, which can last about 15 to 20 minutes, but it's minimal. Tenderness, bruising and tingling are normal side effects and are considered harmless. It can take anywhere from three days to a week to get results; for 80% of women, it's not cancer.

Will doctors give biopsy results over phone?

If a normal or negative test result comes back, the physician can telephone the patient with the “good news,” and patients have the option of canceling the follow-up appointment. Although it is preferable to give bad news face-to-face, there may be times when giving bad news over the phone is unavoidable.

Does a biopsy tell you what stage cancer is?

Doctors have two ways to stage cancer: Clinical Staging This type of staging is done based on the results of diagnostic exams, like a biopsy and imaging test.

How do you know what stage a biopsy is cancer?

The biopsy results help your health care provider determine whether the cells are cancerous. If the cells are cancerous, the results can tell your care provider where the cancer originated — the type of cancer. A biopsy also helps your care provider determine how aggressive your cancer is — the cancer's grade.

Should I get a breast biopsy or wait six months?

A biopsy is only recommended if there's a suspicious finding on a mammogram, ultrasound or MRI, or a concerning clinical finding. If a scan is normal and there are no worrisome symptoms, there's no need for a biopsy. If you do need a biopsy, your doctor should discuss which type of biopsy is needed and why.