Breast biopsy
A breast biopsy examines tissue to diagnose breast changes or concerns.
Breast lumps are not unusual, and most are not cancer. There are various reasons why a breast lump may form, for example a cyst or a build -up of tissue. But if you or your doctor find a lump in your breast, it needs to be examined and you may need to have further tests, which can include a mammogram, ultrasound scan or breast biopsy. You might feel nervous about this, however biopsies are an important tool for doctors to determine a diagnosis. Footnote [1]
What is a breast lump biopsy?
A breast lump biopsy is a way of checking for cancer or other breast conditions by sampling a small amount of breast tissue using a fine needle. This is then looked at under a microscope to see if it contains any cancer cells and, if so, which type of breast cancer.
A breast biopsy is an important diagnostic procedure, as the earlier cancer is diagnosed, the sooner treatment can be started.
How to prepare for a breast biopsy?
You'll be able to eat, drink, and take any medicines as usual before your biopsy. However, if you take any medicine which thins your blood, you might need to stop taking them beforehand. Your doctor or nurse will be able to tell you when to stop.
You might feel anxious about having a biopsy. Your doctor will do everything they can to make you as comfortable as possible, such as using local anaesthetic.
Where will I have a breast biopsy?
A breast biopsy takes place in the outpatient department at the hospital, or at a one-stop breast clinic after other tests. They'll then send your biopsy sample to the laboratory.
What is the recovery time for a breast biopsy?
Breast biopsies are a very safe procedure. However, there are some potential risks including:
- Pain and discomfort
- Bleeding, bruising and swelling
- Infection
Breast lump biopsies are generally reliable but, in some cases, can return a false negative. This means that you could have cancer, but it doesn't show up in the biopsy. This can delay your diagnosis and treatment, so if your doctor thinks you may have cancer despite not finding it during biopsy, they may recommend more tests.
How long do breast biopsy results take?
Waiting for biopsy results can be difficult. Laboratories do everything they can to process biopsies as quickly as possible. It usually takes around one week to get your results back.
What are the types of breast biopsies?
Doctors will recommend the most appropriate biopsy for you, depending on the location and size of your breast lump. Footnote [2]
Fine needle aspiration
A fine needle aspiration, or FNA, is when a doctor uses a small needle to take a sample of fluid and cells from your breast. You might feel a bit of pressure or a quick pinching sensation when the needle is inserted, but it should not be very painful.
Needle biopsy
This is the most common type of biopsy, where a hollow needle is used to take some samples of breast tissue. A needle biopsy is the most common breast biopsy type where a hollow needle is used to take samples from the breast. Local anaesthetic will be used to numb the area so you might feel some pressure or discomfort. Footnote [2]
Vacuum-assisted breast biopsy
A gentle suction device is attached to a needle inserted into the breast, to help collect a sample of breast tissue. Imaging guidance (mammogram or ultrasound) is used to find the right area to biopsy and then local anaesthetic is used to numb the skin. The needle with a vacuum suction is used to remove abnormal breast tissue and the needle makes a noise and vibrates. You might have some discomfort but is not typically very painful.
Punch biopsy
This is when a small cutting device is used to remove a sample that includes layers of breast tissue. They will numb the area with local anaesthetic so you might feel some pressure, but it shouldn’t hurt too much.
Wire guided excision biopsy
If it’s difficult to do other types of biopsies, you might need to have a wire guided excision biopsy, where a thin wire is inserted into your breast to show the exact area that needs removing. It’s done in a couple of stages. First, the wire is put in place using local anaesthetic, then the area is removed during surgery under general anaesthetic.
It can take you a while to recover afterwards and you could have pain, swelling and bruising so you might need to take painkillers for a few days.
If you have a lump, you can use your cover to pay for a breast biopsy
You could claim for a breast biopsy as part of your diagnostics to investigate a breast lump using your health insurance cover. The first step is to get a referral from your GP or specialist. Then you can make a claim through MyAviva, online or over the phone.
If we confirm your claim is eligible, we'll pay for the treatment subject to policy terms and conditions. Just be sure to tell us if you need treatment or change hospital or specialist.
It’s good to have one less thing to worry about. It takes Aviva.
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