Do you feel or see some sort of a lump formation in your breast? Well, some may encounter this change at some point in their lives. So, how do you know what exactly it is? Most women tend to get really tensed about this development. In order to confirm whether the growth in the breast is cancer or benign, you need to undergo a procedure which is known as the breast biopsy procedure. The percentage of breast biopsies that have positive results for cancer may differ from one hospital to another. But, according to recent studies, only 20% of the breast mass is detected as cancerous.
There are primarily two ways that the breast biopsy procedure is done, one is the surgical process and the other is done with needles. Even though the non-surgical procedure is less complicated and less stressful, they are not always full-proof. Surgical biopsies, on the other hand, can produce a more conclusive diagnosis.
What is breast biopsy?
In a breast biopsy procedure, the tissue and cells of the area of suspicion can be examined as well as removed mainly for the presence of breast cancer. The growth sample is either cut out through a surgical process or is suctioned out by the use of a needle. The cells and tissue of the sample are then examined and evaluated under a microscope by the pathologist.
Lesion, tumor, lump, calcification, and mass are the few terms that are used to describe the unnatural development on the breast. The biopsy may also include imaging studies like MRI, ultrasound or mammography. This works as a blueprint to guide the biopsy procedure.
Who can perform the breast biopsy procedure?
There are not one but, quite a few healthcare professionals who can evaluate a woman for breast biopsy. Well, here are they:
- Surgeons or radiologists are often involved in extracting the tissue samples out of the suspicious area of the breast. Take any imaging study, radiologists are specialists in interpreting them and especially X-ray’s like mammography.
- Even internist, nurses, a gynecologist or a family physician can notice the presence of an abnormal breast lump during a routine physical checkup. In any case, women themselves are the first to detect such abnormalities.
- Physician specialists like pathologists are the ones to test the cells and tissues of the sample under the microscope. They determine whether or not the cell and tissue type is cancerous.
- Lastly, there are the Anesthesiologists who are basically responsible to administer the anesthesia and monitor the vital signs of the patient. At times, they do come in the picture during surgical biopsy procedures.
Things to inform the physician!
When you are determined to consult a doctor about the lump formation in your breast, you need to give him detailed information. For instance, you must narrate the history of the lump to the doctor. It would include the time you first noticed the development, the initial size of it and how it has grown and also the exact location of the same.