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By Mayo Clinic staffBefore the breast biopsy, tell your doctor if you:
- Have any allergies
- Have taken aspirin in the last seven days
- Are taking blood-thinning medications (anticoagulants)
- Are unable to lie on your stomach for an extended period of time
If your biopsy will be done using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), tell your doctor if you have a cardiac pacemaker or other electronic device implanted in your body or if you're pregnant or think you may be pregnant. MRI generally isn't recommended under these circumstances.
Wear a bra to your appointment. Your health care team may place a cold pack against the biopsy site after the procedure, and the bra can hold the cold pack in place and provide support for your breast.
Be sure to follow any other instructions given to you in advance of the procedure.
- For women facing a breast biopsy. American Cancer Society. http://www.cancer.org/docroot/CRI/content/CRI_2_4_6x_For_Women_Facing_a_Breast_Biopsy.asp?sitearea=. Accessed June 11, 2009.
- Biopsy. Breastcancer.org. http://www.breastcancer.org/symptoms/testing/types/biopsy.jsp. Accessed June 11, 2009.
- Valea FA, et al. Breast diseases: Diagnosis and treatment of benign and malignant disease. In: Katz VL, et al., eds. Comprehensive Gynecology. 5th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Mosby; 2007. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/142893743-12/0/1524/96.html?tocnode=53759192&fromURL=96.html. Accessed June 11, 2009.
- James JJ, et al. Women's imaging. In: Adam A, et al., eds. Grainger & Allison's Diagnostic Radiology. 5th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Churchill Livingstone Elsevier; 2005:1173.
- Stereotactic (mammographically guided) breast biopsy. The American College of Radiology and The Radiological Society of North America (RSNA). http://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/info.cfm?pg=breastbixr. Accessed June 11, 2009.
- Your pathology report. Breastcancer.org. http://www.breastcancer.org/symptoms/path_report/. Accessed June 11, 2009.
