Table of Contents
- Overview
- Results
- Risks
- Prevention
- Images
The health care provider will ask questions about your medical history and perform a manual breast exam.
You must sign an informed consent form. If you are going to have general anesthesia, you may be asked not to eat or drink anything for 8 - 12 hours before the test.
If you take medications (including aspirin or herbal medications), ask your doctor whether you need to stop taking these before the biopsy.
Tell your doctor if you may be pregnant before having an open biopsy.
Do not wear lotion, perfume, powder, or deodorant underneath your arms or on your breasts.
How the test will feel
After the test, the breast may be sore and tender to the touch for several days. If a surgical cut is made, your doctor may prescribe pain medication.
You will probably go home the day of the procedure.
Do not do any heavy lifting for 24 hours after the biopsy. Do not take a shower for the first 24 hours.
Why the test is performed
A biopsy may be done if the doctor is concerned about breast cancer because of abnormal findings on a
To determine whether someone has breast cancer, a biopsy must be done. Cells from the abnormal area are removed and examined under a microscope.
Review Date: 09/10/2009
Reviewed By: David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.
A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)
