Your doctor has recommended that you undergo a breast biopsy procedure - using a hollow
needle to sample a portion of a lump or thickening in the breast.
But what does that actually mean?
Biopsy is a general term which simply means "the removal of tissue for microscopic examination."
Your doctor intends to remove tissue from the breast - not because you're necessarily
ill - but because breast biopsy is a very accurate method for analyzing breast tissue.
Because it provides such accurate diagnostic information, breast biopsy is an important
diagnostic tool in the fight against breast cancer.
In your case, you have lump in your breast which is too small to be felt by touch.
Your radiologist detected this abnormality while reviewing your recent mammogram - or
breast x-ray.
Let's take a moment to look at the reasons why lumps form in breast tissue.
The breast is made of layers of skin, fat and breast tissue - all of which overlay the
pectoralis muscle.
Breast tissue itself is made up of a network of tiny milk-carrying ducts and there are
three ways in which a lump can form among them.
Most women experience periodic changes to their breasts.
Cysts are some of the most common kinds of tissues that can grow large enough to be felt
and to cause tenderness.
Cysts often grow and then shrink without any medical intervention.
A second kind of lump is caused by changes in breast tissue triggered by the growth of
a cyst.
Even after the cyst itself has gone away, it can leave fibrous tissue behind.
This scar tissue can often be large enough to be felt.
The third kind of growth is a tumor.
Tumors can be either benign or cancerous and it is concern about this type of growth that
has lead your doctor to recommend breast biopsy.
In order to learn more about the nature of the lump in your breast your doctor would
like to surgically remove it.
Most likely, you're feeling some anxiety about this procedure, which is perfectly understandable.
You should realize that it's natural to feel apprehensive about any kind of biopsy.
In some cases, a woman will choose not to have a biopsy simply out of fear.
But ignoring a lump in your breast won't make it go away.
If you're feeling anxious, try to remember that the purpose of a biopsy is simply to
find out what is going on in your body - so that if you do have a problem, it can be diagnosed
and treated as quickly as possible.
If you should decide not to allow your doctor to perform the biopsy, you'll be leaving yourself
at risk for medical problems.
If the suspicious tissue in your breast is benign, most likely you'll suffer few if any
complications.
However, if it is cancerous, and it is allowed to grow unchecked - you might be putting your
own life at risk.
The bottom line - trust that your doctor is recommending this procedure for your benefit
and above all don't be afraid to ask questions raised by this video and to talk openly about
your concerns.
On the day of your operation, you will be asked to put on a surgical gown.
You may receive a sedative by mouth and an intravenous line may be put in.
You will then be transferred to the operating table.
Your doctor will scrub thoroughly and will apply an antiseptic solution to the skin around
the area where the needle will be inserted.
Then, the doctor will place a sterile drape or towels around the operative site...
and will inject a local anesthetic.
This will sting a bit, but your breast will quickly begin to feel numb.
Usually, the surgeon will inject more than one spot - in order to make sure that the
entire area is thoroughly numb.
After allowing a few minutes for the anesthetic to take effect, the surgeon will insert the
biopsy needle and guide it toward the lump.
You will feel some pressure or even slight tugging or pulling - but you should not feel
any sharp pain.
If you do begin to feel pain, you should tell the doctor.
Once the tip of the needle has penetrated the lump, the doctor will draw material from
the lump up into the collection chamber.
Depending on the size and location of the lump your doctor may choose to reposition
the needle and draw additional tissue for analysis.
Finally, a sterile dressing is applied.
Your specimen will be sent immediately to a lab for microscopic analysis.
Your doctor will tell you when to expect result from those tests.