Breast Biopsy Gold Coast – What To Expect During Preparation, Procedure, And Follow-Up

What To Expect During A Breast Biopsy?

There are a few different breast biopsy procedures that could be used. The procedure you have will depend on a few factors. Your doctor will run through this with you when recommending the procedure, covering these factors with you:

• The size of the suspicious area in your breast

• The location of the suspicious area in your breast

• The concern the suspicious aerea causes

• The feel of the tissue during a physical exam (and if they cannot feel it)

• The personal preferences and overall health you

Preparing For A Breast Biopsy

There isn’t much preparation required for a breast biopsy, but this can vary depending on your biopsy type. As a general rule, it is recommended that you eat as normal on the day of your body and take any medication with some water.

Before heading to your appointment, you should wash your underarms and breasts thoroughly with water and soap. Do not put deodorant on after washing; opt for a tight-fitting bra, like a sports bra.

You usually have the opportunity to meet and speak to the radiologist before the procedure begins. They will walk you through the process and answer any questions that you might have.

Fine Needle Biopsy

A fine needle biopsy uses a thin needle and a syringe to draw out a sample of breast fluid or cells. This type of biopsy is used when you can feel lumps with a physical exam, and an imaging system is not needed to find the lump.

Preparation

There is no additional preparation for a fine needle biopsy. However, you should wash thoroughly beforehand and wear a tight-fitting bra for your appointment.

Procedure

A local anaesthetic will be targeted and injected near the biopsy area to numb the area to reduce any pain. You will be awake for this procedure, and the anesthetic ensures you won’t move around in reaction to the pain.

The area of the breast they will biopsy will be located. Imaging tests, like ultrasounds, might be used here. Generally, fine needle biopsy is performed when the jump can be felt, and the area will be located by a physical exam.

Your provider will inject a thin needle into your skin and use the syringe to draw out cells or fluid from the area. A sterile bandage will be used to cover the area.

Follow Up

You will feel some discomfort from the needle inserting the anesthetic, but otherwise, the procedure should be painless. You can return to your normal activities the next day, although there might be some pain in the area as the anesthetic wears off.

Core Needle Biopsy

A core needle biopsy uses a larger needle with a special tip. It is used alongside imaging methods to locate the abnormal tissue before it is removed with a syringe and sent away for testing.

A core needle biopsy is often performed with imaging techniques such as:

• Ultrasound-guided breast biopsy – where the patient lies on their baby, and an ultrasound is used as a guide to locate the breast tissue

• Mamogram-guided biopsy (stereotactic biopsy) – where the patient lies on their stomach, and the doctor uses X-rays to locate the area of breast tissue to sample

Preparation

The preparation for this is the same as for a fine needle aspiration, as you will be under local anaesthetic. You will need to wash before attending the procedure and wear a tight-fitting bra.

Procedure

The procedure begins with local anesthetic being injected near the area to numb your breast. This might feel uncomfortable while the needle is inserted.

For this biopsy, imaging guides will show your doctor where to extract the tissue. A mammogram or ultrasound will show images of your breast, directing the doctor to the concerned area. An MRI can sometimes be used, too, and contrast will need to be injected beforehand, extending the time of your procedure.

Once the area is located, the needle will be inserted, and one sample will be removed. The core needle features a hollow centre that will hold the tissue until it is removed and sent to the lab for testing.

Follow Up

You will be given a sterile bandage where the needle was inserted and allowed to continue your regular activities the next day. You might experience discomfort after the anesthetic wears off, but this is normal.

Surgical Biopsy

A surgical biopsy involves you going under general anesthetic to have an exploration and excision of the breast tissue. You might have the whole lump and surrounding tissue removed or part of the lump sent to the lab for testing.

Preparation

As general anesthetic is provided for a surgical biopsy, you will likely be told to fast for several hours before the biopsy. You will not be allowed to eat, drink, or drive yourself home after the procedure. Your doctor will provide you with specific instructions that should be followed to help you prepare for the procedure.

Procedure

To start, your surgeon will use wire localisation to guide them to the area they need to biopsy. They will use local anesthesia to numb your breast and an imaging machine to insert a thin and hollow needle into your breast. An ultrasound or MRI is usually used to help them find the correct spot. The needle will be inserted with a sterile wire through its centre. It has a small hook on the end to keep it in place.

The needle is removed, and the wire stays in place, remaining outside of your breast, so the surgeons know where to operate. You will then be offered a general anesthetic and taken for your biopsy. The wire is removed during surgery once the tissue is removed and your incision is closed. Adhesive strips or stitches are commonly used.

Follow Up

Your surgeon will provide specific aftercare depending on the surgery and how they closed the incision. You will likely be groggy for several hours after the surgery and will need someone to drive you home.

You might feel some discomfort and need to modify your activities while your breast heals.

Follow Up After A Breast Biopsy

The results of your breast biopsy will usually take one to two weeks to receive. Your doctor will call you once they have the results and arrange for an appointment or phone call to discuss them with you.

The results will usually reveal whether the tissue was positive or negative for abnormal cells, pre-cancer cells, or cancer cells. A surgical biopsy result will contain more detailed information, including the type, grade, and receptor status of the tumour.

Your doctor will explain this to you and the next steps required for your treatment or if further tests are needed.