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Core biopsy

Tilly_2022
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Hi everyone, 

I'm due for a core biopsy next Thursday and I'm anxious about it. A few weeks ago I went for an ultrasound and a fine needle biopsy after my GP confirmed my finding of a pea sized lump (4mm in size) in my left breast. I'm 30 years old and this came as a shock as I've not come across any irregularities before. 

The surgeon said I have nothing to worry about after the physical examination and the ultrasound + fine needle biopsy and that put my mind at rest. But last week he called me back for another ultrasound as whatever it is it's not a cyst like I'd hoped. What spooked me is that when I received the formal letter today, it states specifically that they're also going to perform a core biopsy. I'm confused why I'm undergoing another biopsy if the doctor doesn't think it's malign, unless they have a reason for further investigating this lesion. 

I don't know what to make of it and it's fair to say I'm distracted and not able to focus on much else. 

  • Hello there and thanks for posting

    I am sorry to hear you have a breast lump that needs further tests and this is understandably a worry for you.

    No one here can say what this further biopsy will show but often if a fine needle aspirate biopsy doesn't give the results they were expecting and they are unsure of the cause they will want to investigate further.

    It still doesn't mean for sure that this is cancer, there are of course many reasons for breast lumps and most won't be caused by cancer but it is important more serious causes are ruled out, just to be sure.

    We have more information about core biopsies ( also called needle biopsy) where they take a sample of the breast tissue to be examined under a microscope here that you may like to take a look at.

    Times of waiting and not knowing can be unsettling and I do hope you have family and friends you can share with at this time to support you.

    Please get back if you need to or you are welcome to call the nurse helpline on 0808 800 4040, Monday to Friday 9-5.

    I do hope everything works out okay for you.

    Take care,

    Naomi

  • Offline in reply to CRUK Nurse Naomi

    Hi Naomi,

    Thank you so much for your kind and considerate answer, I found reading your comment both informative and reassuring. I had a number of doctors say they think it's a fibroadenoma or a cyst, they didn't seem worried. When the surgeon called he said the one of the two samples taken with the fine needle were normal breast cells but I didn't catch what he said about the second. What I understood though was because the lesion is only 4 mm at the moment, they had trouble getting samples. After the second fine needle aspiration the lump wasn't visible on the ultrasound anymore. Now that my breast has healed, I can definitely feel it's still there so hopefully they can take tissue and like you say, rule out anything serious (hopefully). 

    Thank you for the link, I read a bit more about the core biopsy and it sounds uncomfortable but not intolerable. 

    I hope to return with some good news (fingers crossed)! 

  • Offline in reply to Tilly_2022

    I'm in a similar position. I had a core biopsy and they said it's a possible fibroadenoma (well that's what it said on the letter) when are you going back/getting a call? Mine is 1st Feb ‍♀️ X

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