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Your doctor has just told you that you
need a breast biopsy. You wouldn’t be
human if you weren’t worried about
what the results might show.
But do try to balance that worry
with this reassuring fact: About
four out of every five breast
biopsies test negative for breast
cancer, the American Cancer
Society reports.
Biopsies are an important part
of detecting breast cancer. Even
though imaging tests such as
mammograms or ultrasounds
can detect a suspicious change
in a woman’s breast, they can’t
tell if that change is actually
cancer. Only a biopsy—in
which a small amount of tissue
is removed from the breast
and then examined under a
microscope—can reveal this
for certain.
Doctors perform different
types of breast biopsies, each
with its own pros and cons.
Some may only bruise you;
others may leave you with a
slight scar. The type you have
will depend on several things,
including how large the tumor
is, how suspicious it is and your
own preferences.
When you’re discussing a
breast biopsy, be sure to ask
your doctor:
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What type of biopsy are you
advising?
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Why are you recommending this
particular kind?
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How much breast tissue will be
removed?
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Are there any other options?
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What are the possible side effects?
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When will I know the results?
To learnmore about breast biopsies,
visit www.morehealth.org/biopsy.
Online
To learn more, visit
the Stanly Regional
Breast Center’s website at
www.stanlybreastcenter.org
.
You can also find information
at the sites of the
American Cancer Society,
www.cancer.org
, and the
National Cancer Institute,
www.cancer.gov
.
treatment
Could it be
breast cancer?
www.stanly.org
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