To understand what’s going on with an abnormal area you may need to have a biopsy. This is a simple procedure that can usually be done during your assessment.

Types of biopsy

Needle core biopsy

This is done under a local anaesthetic, using a needle to remove a small sample of tissue. This may be done using an ultrasound scan or the mammogram machine for accuracy.

Needle core biopsies are usually done on the day of your assessment, but in some cases you may need another appointment.

Surgical biopsy

This is done under a general anaesthetic. The surgeon removes part of the tissue that needs checking and examines it for cancer. Most of these results will not be cancer.

Getting your results

After your biopsy has been done, an appointment will be made for you to see a surgeon to talk about the results.

If your results show breast cancer, we’ll help you choose a specialist, who will provide advice and treatment. Find out more in the treatment section.