Breast Biopsy: Preparation and Recovery

Your surgeon has ordered a breast biopsy for you after reviewing your imaging reports. Now what? What does this mean? How can you prepare for a biopsy? What does the recovery from a biopsy look like?

Note: I am not a medical professional.  Please listen to your doctors for medical advice.  

I know what it is like to be in your shoes. I had 5 biopsies last fall during my diagnosis process. By the time I was done getting poked, I was really ready to get the problem tissue out of my body!!!

Biopsies are not fun to go through at all. However, the technology that doctors have now to test tissue for cancer has greatly improved over the years. Much of the testing can be done under local anesthesia, which means that our recovery can be quicker. Additionally, the core needle technology allows for multiple tissue samples to be taken with only one needle insertion. This makes recovery much easier!

Why Biopsy?

Biopsies are a necessary tool to confirm or rule out cancer. Breast imaging can be used to find a lot of information about the size and shape of the area in question. But, imaging cannot definitely state what type of cells are growing. This is why a tissue sample is required. 

Do I have Cancer?

Maybe, maybe not. If you have access to your mammogram results, you can use your BiRads score to help you understand your risk.

I wish I could be more clear with you, but that is why your surgeon has determined that a biopsy is needed. I have had many biopsies come back negative for cancer. 

There are many different kinds of benign lumps and other conditions that can show up on your breast imaging. I have quite a few fibroadenomas. These are round marble-like lumps in my breasts. They have firm edges and move around if I were to feel them. When I was in my late 30s I had a few biopsies ordered on them. My initial ultrasounds had come back with a BiRads 3 ( see my article on BiRads) but my surgeon wanted to make sure that they were benign.  

I know that it is worrisome and anxiety-producing to have a biopsy ordered. I have been there. 

Surgeons order biopsies for their patients every day. They can write out the referral and then move on to another patient. Meanwhile, we are left with questions and anxiety. 

I wanted to write this post for you to help you understand why your surgeon has ordered a biopsy and also how you can prepare for the biopsy. Also, I want to share with you what you can expect with regards to recovery.

I will be writing another post soon about the different types of biopsies that might be ordered for you, so please subscribe if you’d like to get updates when I write that post.

Biopsy Scheduling and Information

After your surgeon ordered a biopsy, you’ll either need to call in to make the appointment or wait for the location to give you a call for scheduling. Biopsies are typically scheduled with the radiology department. 

You should get some information about the biopsy procedure, as well as preparation instructions for what you need to do before your appointment. I was told to stop taking ibuprofen for about a week before my procedure to minimize the bleeding. There may also be instructions on other medications you need to stop taking so that the procedure goes smoothly. 

Depending on the urgency of your diagnosis and the busyness of the medical facility, you might be waiting a week or two to get in to be seen. If you’re concerned about the delay, talk to your surgeon. 

For my initial biopsies, I wanted to make sure that I could get them done near my home. So, I was willing to wait for a bit of time to make sure I could get in. I needed a second round of biopsies done, and those were more urgent. I ended up needing to schedule those biopsies further away from my home. 

If you’re not sure about the wait time for your biopsy, please call or talk to your surgeon. If he needs the procedure done more quickly than you’re able to get scheduled, then ask him to make the order more urgent. 

Waiting is hard, I know. You might have a few weeks between your appointment and the biopsy. I’m going to encourage you to use that time to prepare yourself for this next procedure. 

Preparing For the Biopsy

There are a few things that you can do now to prepare yourself and your home for your recovery from the biopsy. I encourage you to take some time and jot down some of these things in a notebook, your bullet journal, or a to-do list.

• Dark Sheets: If you don’t have some, I would recommend you buy some! These will be very helpful if your biopsy wound opens up at night.  
• Sports Bra: Preferably one that is a front close. I highly recommend these bras from Fruit of the Loom. They are really comfortable. You will be wearing a bra most of the time to keep everything in place. I was unable to wear an underwire bra after my first biopsy because the wire landed right on my biopsy location.
• Laundry/ Household Chores: You will need to be careful for the first few days after your biopsy. Plan to have someone else do the heavy lifting around the house for you. This included emptying the dishwasher and lifting heavy post and pans.
• Easy Meals: Plan to have meals ready that are easy, or can be delivered. You won’t want to cook or prepare food for a few days after the biopsy. Thinking ahead now will help your family be less hungry!
• Cleaning: If you are feeling like you need something to do to occupy your time and get out any anxiety, I highly recommend cleaning. It is a great way to work out excess energy, and you will love coming home to a clean house
• Transportation: Please make sure you have someone available to drive you to and from your procedure. Yes, you are technically able to drive yourself, but you don’t know how you will handle the biopsy. Plan now to have a driver available for you.
• Ice Packs: You’ll want several ice packs in the freezer available to rotate out. Keeping ice on the biopsy location for several hours really helps with pain management and swelling.
• Care at home: Make sure you have someone available to help you out at home or someone you can call. I was dizzy and weak after my biopsies, and I really relied on my family to help me out. If you live alone, think now about who you might be able to call if you find that you need help.
• Pain Management: Check with your radiologist or surgeon about which OTC pain meds are safe to take before and after your biopsy.

Biopsy Recovery and Results:

Everyone recovers differently from the biopsy procedure. I found that I felt pretty good after about 3 days, and was back to full strength within about a week. Your recovery time may vary depending on your age, fitness, and procedure.  

Please give your body and emotions time to recover. If you are working, I recommend scheduling a day off after your biopsy. Perhaps you could schedule the biopsy for a Thursday and then take Friday off. You will likely feel good enough to go back to work on Monday.

I was very drained emotionally and physically the first 24-48 hours after each of my biopsies. I did a lot of resting on the couch. I would get up every hour or so to walk around and stretch my legs. I needed to be careful not to lift the household items and do too many chores so that I didn’t disturb my steri-strips.

Before you have your biopsy, I would like to encourage you to talk to your radiologist and surgeon about how results are communicated to you. I did not want to receive a phone call with my results. I also didn’t want to read them on my patient portal. So, I was really specific with my surgeon about what I wanted.

You are the patient, and you have the power to request that your results are delivered in a way that works for you. If you’re happy with a phone call, then specify that. I didn’t want to be anxious and waiting for a phone call. So, I made a follow-up appointment with my surgeon to discuss the results.  

I hope that this post has helped you understand a little more about how to prepare and recover from a biopsy. Biopsies aren’t fun to go through, but thanks to the new medical technology, radiologist and surgeons can use them to guide care for us, without the need for general anesthesia.