Biopsy question

Hi PinkTulip19

Thanks for getting in touch and welcome to the online community.

My name is Paula and I am one of the Cancer Information Nurse Specialists on the Macmillan Support Line.

I am sorry to read you’ve found a worrying pea size lump in your breast. I can imagine the shock you had on finding the lump. However, it’s good to hear you’ve reported it and have had further investigations to identify the probable cause.

It’s understandable you’re worried about the area in the breast where the biopsies were taken from and why the marker was left in place. Having biopsies done can cause a lot of worry and raise further questions about the procedure.

Here at Macmillan, we can give general advice and support. We are independent from the NHS and don’t have access to medical records so cannot give personalised information.

There are several factors that helps the sonographer to decide the type of biopsy required, including the appearance, size of the area and the location in the breast. Therefore, it’s difficult to say if there were other areas in the breast, they were not sure about.

Sometimes biopsies breast lumps can collapse if they contain fluid. The marker can be used as an indicator to check and locate the area in the breast again.

We would suggest writing down your questions and to discuss the concerns you have at your next appointment. They will be able to answer your questions directly and give a full explanation on the biopsies they have taken.

Waiting for test results can be a stressful time and it’s normal to feel anxious before you get your results back. It is important to reach out for support if you need it.

Here at Macmillan, we offer a range of support and services you can access. You may find this link useful to look at.

I hope you find this information helpful.

Please don’t hesitate top get back in touch if you’d like to talk things through. Some people find it helpful to talk through their concerns.

Kind regards.

Paula

Ref: PW/SB