Q: My breast biopsy came back abnormal. What do I do now?
A: Don’t panic. Usually people assume that anything 'abnormal' is cancer.
A biopsy can also show changes in the breast tissue that indicates an increased risk of breast cancer even though there is no actual cancer in the biopsy.
For non-cancerous changes, a surgeon may need to remove additional tissue. Women with these changes should be followed closely with mammograms at least once a year with physical exams twice a year.
If the results point to cancer, the entire affected breast needs to be treated and the associated lymph nodes need to be evaluated. Treatment options include partial or total mastectomy and removal of some lymph nodes.
Generally, the diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer involves many variables and must be tailored to the patient. If you get an abnormal biopsy, there are many factors to discuss with your physician before any further tests or treatments are started.
