If your doctor suspects you might have cancer or find a lump in your breast, they will sometimes recommend a breast biopsy. This procedure removes a small piece of tissue from your breast. Knowing what to expect after the biopsy is important, as this can help you be more prepared. In this article, you’ll discover exactly what you should expect if you need to go for a breast biopsy, focusing on what happens after the procedure.
What to Expect After Breast Biopsy
After the breast biopsy, your doctor will apply bandages to the wound and give you an ice pack. This accounts for most types of breast biopsies, but there are more invasive procedures that may require a different approach. You’ll usually be able to go home on the same day but you should take things slow.
Pain is something that you can expect during the first few days after a breast biopsy. Apart from pain, the site where the biopsy was done may also become swollen and tender to the touch. Bruising is also not uncommon.
You should keep the area clean and follow any instructions that your doctor gave you. Consider wearing a supportive bra for a couple of days and avoid any strenuous activities.
Next Steps
Once the biopsy is done, the surgeon will send it to a laboratory. The sample now needs to be analyzed under a microscope by lab technicians.
In most cases, you should be given the results of the biopsy in seven to 10 days. There are cases where the lab works faster. However, you do need to keep in mind the fact that the lab technicians need to perform specific tasks in order to give you an accurate result.
In most cases, the result is negative. Following a breast biopsy, only about 20% to 25% of these cases result in the diagnosis of cancer.
Sleeping Position
Choosing the right sleeping position after breast biopsy is important. This can help to reduce pain during the night and make you feel more comfortable. It’s a good idea to lie on your back when you sleep. You can also elevate your head a little by adding another pillow to your bed. Do not sleep on the side where the biopsy was done for the first few days.
Pain Management Strategies
Pain is a common symptom that you may experience after a breast biopsy. Understanding how to cope with the pain is important.
Your doctor will likely give you some pain medication after the procedure. The medication may help with both pain and inflammation. It’s important to ask your doctor how you should use the medication and follow their instructions.
If you did not get a prescription for pain medication, then some over-the-counter options can help. Just be sure to avoid pain medication that contains aspirin. Options like Tylenol can work great to reduce your symptoms.
There are other strategies that also help with pain management. This includes applying an ice pack to the area where the procedure was done. Keep the pack in the area for a couple of minutes. You can do this a few times a day to help with inflammation and pain.
Problems and Complications
In most cases, any complications that develop after a breast biopsy will clear up on its own. However, it’s important to regularly clean the area where the procedure was done and to keep it clean. If you notice signs of an infection, make sure to contact your doctor.
You may need to go into your doctor’s office so that they can assess the wound. If there is an infection, you’ll need antibiotics to help treat it and prevent the bacteria from spreading to other areas. Infections after breast biopsy are preventable, so be sure to follow the care instructions that your doctor shared following the procedure.
Conclusion
When you undergo a breast biopsy procedure, you may feel some pain and discomfort for a couple of days. The right sleeping position, keeping the area clean, and using pain management strategies can make the healing and recovery process more comfortable for you.
Doctor, author and fitness enthusiast, Ahmed Zayed, MD, is a surgery resident with a passion for helping people live a happy healthy life. He is the author of numerous health-related books and contributor to several medicine, health and wellbeing.
