Question 1

does it hurt to get a core biopsy of the breast?

Accepted Answer

Yes, but dont fear: The core biopsy needle will cause pain like any needle can.  It is a bit large than a regular needle and the biopsy site will likely be bruised for a few days, but the pain of a core biopsy will be much less than an open biopsy.  Do not delay diagnosis for fear of the discomfort.

Question 2

hoping you can tell me, is needle biopsy of the breast painful?

Accepted Answer

Not very: These are done with local anesthesia and with very thin needles.  After the anesthesia wears off you will be a little sore but not too much.  Talk to your doctor if you are worried about this.

Question 3

how long do i need to recover from excisional biopsy of the breast?

Accepted Answer

Not much time: Depending on the size, in most cases you should be able to recover within 24 to 48 hours after the procedure.

Question 4

how long will i need to recover from an excisional biopsy of the breast?

Accepted Answer

Less than 1 week.: Surgical removal of a breast lump is an out-patient procedure that can usually be done under twilight anesthesia.  Most people don't require narcotic pain medication and can return to normal activities within one week.

Question 5

what does fine needle biopsy of the breast tell you?

Accepted Answer

Cancer or not: A fine needle biopsy of the breast is done when there is a lump or bump the surgeon can feel.  A hollow needle is put into the lump to get some cells, which are then looked at under the microscope.  If there is a cancer, the fine needle biopsy might diagnose it, but it's not 100%.  Other things such as fibrocystic breast disease or fibroadenoma (benign lump) can be diagnosed this way.

Question 6

what to expect when going for a fine needle aspiration biopsy of the breast?

Accepted Answer

Don't stress: Fine needle biopsy of breast is very tolerable and is done often without local anesthetic.  A small gauge needle is placed into a nodule and material is removed. It takes about 5 seconds.  Studies have shown the most critical factor in fna reliability is the training and experience of the operator. Ideally,  the operator can use a microscope to check the sample for adequacy.

Question 7

what are breast biopsies for?

Accepted Answer

Diagnosis: A breast biopsy allows the pathologist  to examine the tissue under the microscope to determine the exact nature of the tissue.  It is most commonly used to determine whether an area of the breast is cancerous or not
.

Question 8

can you tell me if breast biopsys hurt?

Accepted Answer

Yes, but pain can be: Controlled. Biopsy involves cutting the skin and removing a piece of tissue and it does hurt, however, the pain can be contorlled. Please do not put off the biopsy if your doctor recommended it, for fear of pain. Discuss your issue about pain with your doctor before the biopsy.

Question 9

would like to know how a biopsy is done and how long before you get the results? a hard knot is found just under a womans breast?

Accepted Answer

There : There are different types of biopsies that can be done in a situation like this. An excisional biopsy, fine needle, core needle, or vacuum assisted core biopsy are all possibilities. You should ask your doctor which type will be done and make sure he/she explains the procedure in detail. Also make sure all your questions are answered.
As far as how long it takes for the results to come back, this also depends on the laboratory. The turn around time is typically 1-2 weeks.
All the best.

Question 10

i have an area in my breast that was biopsied twice so there are two clips there. i swear i can feel them- they are close to the surface. possible?

Accepted Answer

Possible: Also possible what you feel is scar tissue and not necessarily the clips (although you could be).  Have you discussed with your surgeon?  That would be next step to address this issue.  Hope this helps. Best of luck.  Dr R

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Doctor answers about:

What is a biopsy of the breast

A member asked:

Does it hurt to get a core biopsy of the breast?

A member asked:

Hoping you can tell me, is needle biopsy of the breast painful?

A member asked:

How long do i need to recover from excisional biopsy of the breast?

A member asked:

How long will i need to recover from an excisional biopsy of the breast?

A member asked:

What does fine needle biopsy of the breast tell you?

A member asked:

What to expect when going for a fine needle aspiration biopsy of the breast?

A member asked:

What are breast biopsies for?

A member asked:

Can you tell me if breast biopsys hurt?

A member asked:

Would like to know how a biopsy is done and how long before you get the results? a hard knot is found just under a womans breast?

A member asked:

I have an area in my breast that was biopsied twice so there are two clips there. i swear i can feel them- they are close to the surface. possible?

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