You might think the only reason to get a breast biopsy is to rule out the chance of breast cancer, but this is where you’re already mistaken. There are several breast biopsy benefits, and yes, one of them is to determine if breast cancer cells are present, but this is certainly not the only one. Wondering about when to get a breast biopsy, what the purpose is, and the procedural steps involved? You can find the answers here. 

What is a breast biopsy?

According to Healthline, “a breast biopsy is a simple medical procedure in which a sample of breast tissue is removed and sent to a laboratory for testing. A breast biopsy is the best way to evaluate if a suspicious lump or portion of your breast is cancerous.”

A lot of patients don’t realize that when a lump is detected, it doesn’t necessarily point to breast cancer. The first assumption is that breast cancer is present and that you are on the cusp of death, but this is rarely the case. A breast biopsy allows doctors and patients to rule out the possibility of cancer. If cancer is in fact present, a biopsy can help to determine the proper course of treatment. 

When is it time to get a breast biopsy performed?

The main reason to undergo a breast biopsy is to investigate a lump found within the breast tissue. Another reason to receive a biopsy is in the event of an irregular mammogram or ultrasound. Lastly, if the breast nipple is experiencing any irregularity, like scaling or dimpling, your doctor could suggest a biopsy to be performed. 

The 3 Common Types of Breast Biopsies

Not all breast biopsies are the same. There are three common types, including a fine-needle aspiration biopsy, core-needle biopsy, and a surgical biopsy. A fine-needle aspiration biopsy utilizes a fine needle to extract the breast tissue to be examined. More commonly performed, however, are the core-needle and surgical biopsy procedures. 

Core-needle is similar to fine-needle, but in this case a larger, hollow needle is used to extract breast tissue. Many doctors opt for the core-needle vs fine-needle procedure since it often provides more accurate results. The surgical biopsy is more invasive but still considered a very simple procedure. The doctor will make a small incision to cut into the breast and extract tissue from the suspicious area. 

The Benefits of Undergoing in a Breast Biopsy

Out of the nearly 50 million mammograms performed each year, not even 2% of them lead to the next stage of a breast biopsy. The main benefit for the patients that do need a biopsy performed is the fact that any and all uncertainty is cleared up. 

The majority of suspicious lumps are not actually cancerous, and a biopsy is the best way to find out that you don’t actually have cancer. But even if you do, the biopsy is a great way to determine the proper steps to take next.