First, don’t panic. Just because you need a biopsy does NOT mean you have cancer; in fact, chances are about 4 out of 5 that it’s a false alarm, especially if you also had an ultrasound or MRI of your breasts. This is the nature of screening tests. They won’t do a good job of detecting cancer if they only look for definite signs. They must have a low threshold for signs of cancer in order not to miss subtle cancers. In other words, “false positive” mammograms, breast ultrasounds and breast MRIs are necessary.
Second, try to resist the temptation to hurry through the process. Often there are important alternatives to consider with the assistance of a breast specialist. Even in the worst-case scenario, breast cancer typically develops over years, and aside from the emotional stress, waiting a few days or weeks to have a biopsy will not matter. Plus, many of the cancers that mammograms find are very early forms that are not life-threatening. However, we never want anyone to have to wait any longer than absolutely necessary, so make sure you inform the doctor’s office or clinic that you were told you need a biopsy.
Finally, breast biopsies are now almost always performed outside the operating room using minimally invasive techniques, with tiny incisions. This means that most women who need a biopsy will not need surgery at all. Those who do can usually plan a curative operation with their surgeon, rather than needing to undergo a diagnostic operation followed by treatment.
At Advanced Surgical Care, we strive to minimize your wait, and we offer state-of-the-art, office-based, minimally invasive biopsy procedures. We partner with you during the process to help you make the decisions that are best for you.
At Advanced Surgical Care, our skilled team including general surgeon Dr. Joseph Gordon registered nurses and medical office staff care for people with a broad variety of conditions, including benign tumors and cancers of many types, and provide general surgery services for hernia, appendicitis, hemorrhoids, gallbladder disease and diverticulitis among others. Our offices are located in Fairfield County, CT in the towns of Danbury and Ridgefield.
Joseph R. Gordon, MD FACS
General Surgery