What happens after a breast biopsy? Many women want to know what might happen after a lump has been removed.
The Pathology Report
If you’ve been experiencing signs of breast cancer, your doctor may have requested you get a breast biopsy. During this simple procedure, a lump is removed and the tissue will be sent to a pathologist for examination. In about 24 hours, you will learn whether the tissue is cancerous or benign. In this time, you might rest at home as indicated by your doctor since many surgeries require anesthesia, so you might have to take a few days to recover. Once you have learned the status of the tissue, then you will talk with your doctor about what happens next.
Talking with a Doctor
Should the tissue come back as having cancerous cells in it, you will be called in for an appointment with your doctor. At this point, you might be scheduled to see a general oncologist or a breast cancer specialist. These cancer doctors will talk with you about what needs to be done next, what stage your cancer is, what further testing you need, etc. It’s a good idea to bring a pad of paper and a pen with you to make sure you remember all of the information you are learning. A friend or a partner who can come with you is also going to help you remember all that you are being told.
Deciding What’s Right for You
You might be given a number of breast cancer treatment options to ponder: chemotherapy, breast cancer surgery, etc. It can be tempting to make a decision when you are in the office talking with the doctor, but it’s a better idea to schedule another appointment with another doctor to get a second opinion. This way, you will be able to find out what another person’s advice might be in terms of your treatment options. When you have both opinions, take these ideas home and spend some time deciding on what makes sense to you, talk to relatives, and do some Internet research. These steps will help you to begin to decide what course of action is right for you. There’s no need to rush your decision.