A breast biopsy is a simple procedure in which a doctor removes a small
sample of tissue from a lump in the breast to send to a laboratory for
testing. A doctor may perform a biopsy on breast tissue to determine
whether a lump in the breast is cancerous or benign.A doctor typically performs a biopsy on the breast to investigate a lump. A
doctor may order a biopsy if a person has signs or symptoms of breast
cancer, which can include a new mass or lump in the breast
sample of tissue from a lump in the breast to send to a laboratory for
testing. A doctor may perform a biopsy on breast tissue to determine
whether a lump in the breast is cancerous or benign.A doctor typically performs a biopsy on the breast to investigate a lump. A
doctor may order a biopsy if a person has signs or symptoms of breast
cancer, which can include a new mass or lump in the breast
skin dimpling on the breast discharge from the nipple swelling in an area
of the breast.
pain in the breast or nipple nipple retraction, in which the nipple turns
inward thick, red, dry, or flaking skin on the nipple or breast swelling of
the lymph nodes underneath the arm or near the collarbone. A doctor may
also order a biopsy if the results of a mammogram or other imaging tests
suggest that a person may have breast cancer.
Most biopsy results do not indicate cancer — only about 20% of breast
biopsies lead to a cancer diagnosis. Therefore, if a person needs a breast
biopsy, it does not always mean they have cancer. However, a biopsy is the
only way a doctor can find out whether a lump is cancerous.
