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How you prepare

By Mayo Clinic staff

Living With Cancer

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Before 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.

What you can expect Risks
References
  1. Valea FA, et al. Breast diseases: Diagnosis and treatment of benign and malignant disease. In: Katz VL, et al. Comprehensive Gynecology. 5th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Mosby Elsevier; 2007. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/208746819-4/0/1524/0.html. Accessed June 21, 2011.
  2. James JJ, et al. The breast. In: Adam A, et al. Grainger & Allison's Diagnostic Radiology. 5th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Elsevier Churchill Livingstone; 2008. http://www.mdconsult.com/books/about.do?about=true&eid=4-u1.0-B978-0-443-10163-2..X5001-5--TOP&isbn=978-0-443-10163-2&uniqId=259733166-219. Accessed June 21, 2011.
  3. For women facing a breast biopsy. American Cancer Society. http://www.cancer.org/acs/groups/cid/documents/webcontent/003176-pdf.pdf. Accessed June 21, 2011.
  4. MRI-guided breast biopsy. RadiologyInfo.org. http://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/info.cfm?pg=breastbimr. Accessed June 21, 2011.
  5. Ultrasound-guided breast biopsy. RadiologyInfo.org. http://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/info.cfm?pg=breastbius. Accessed June 21, 2011.
  6. Pathology reports. National Cancer Institute. http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/detection/pathology-reports. Accessed June 21, 2011.
MY00301 Aug. 9, 2011

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