Breast cancer is considered when a suspicious lump is felt or an abnormal area is found on a mammogram. Often, these suspicious areas do not turn out to be cancer, but the only way to be completely sure is to undergo follow-up tests.  Additional mammograms or other imaging methods such as ultrasound or MRI can also be done to find the cause.  If cancer cannot be ruled out, then your doctor may recommend doing a biopsy to analyse the lump tissue and determine if it is cancerous or not.

What is a Biopsy

A biopsy involves the removal of cells or tissue from the breast for further clinical analysis. Cells are examined under a microscope to check if for malignancy. Even though the prospect of having a biopsy can be frightening, bear in mind that most people who get biopsies do not have breast cancer. In fact, four in five women who have biopsies done do not have cancer. Still, the test remains extremely important as it is the only way to learn if a lump or abnormality is cancerous or not. If a biopsy does show cancer, the good news is that if detected early, it usually can be treated quite successfully.