Why do I need a biopsy after a mammogram and ultrasound?

A biopsy may be ordered when a mammogram or other breast imaging (such as an ultrasound) reveals an abnormality or you feel a lump in your breast, or when a physician notices something suspicious (such as dimpling or a change in skin texture) during a clinical exam.

What comes after a breast ultrasound?

The most likely next step is a diagnostic mammogram or breast ultrasound. In some cases, a breast MRI or a biopsy may be recommended. Here are the different types of follow-up tests: Mammography can be used as a follow-up test when something abnormal is found on a screening mammogram or CBE.

Can a breast biopsy tell what stage cancer you have?

Needing a breast biopsy doesn’t necessarily mean you have cancer. Most biopsy results are not cancer, but a biopsy is the only way to find out for sure. During a biopsy, a doctor will remove small pieces from the suspicious area so they can be looked at in the lab to see if they contain cancer cells.

How long does an ultrasound guided breast biopsy take?

The entire ultrasound-guided core biopsy should take approximately one hour or less.

How long does it take to get results from a breast biopsy?

Most people will get the result of their breast biopsy within 7 to 10 days. Some people may get their results a bit sooner, and for some people it may be longer depending on whether more tests need to be done on the tissue.

What is the next step after a positive breast biopsy?

If breast cancer is found on your biopsy, the cells will be checked for certain proteins or genes that will help the doctors decide how best to treat it. You might also need more tests to find out whether the cancer has spread.

What to expect after your breast biopsy?

Bruising is common after core needle biopsy procedures. To ease pain and discomfort after a breast biopsy, you may take a nonaspirin pain reliever containing acetaminophen (Tylenol, others) and apply a cold pack as needed to reduce swelling. If you have a surgical biopsy, you’ll likely have stitches (sutures) to care for.

What is the recovery time after breast biopsy?

If you had a lumpectomy and sentinel node biopsy alone, it could be one to two weeks for recovery. If you had a mastectomy with reconstruction, recovery could take four to eight weeks, depending on the type of reconstruction. Recovery times can vary after breast cancer surgery.

What are the symptoms after a breast biopsy?

Your doctor or nurse will give you instructions on this. A CNB can cause some bleeding, bruising, or swelling. This can make it seem like the breast lump is larger after the biopsy. Most often, this is nothing to worry about, and any bleeding, bruising, or swelling will go away over time.