If you have a breast lump or thickening it is important that you have a Triple Test.

This consists of:

	Clinical examination by a doctor
	Imaging - mammography and / or ultrasound
	Pathology i.e. FNA ( fine needle aspirate ) or core biopsy, to look at the cells

Only by having all 3 can you be reassured that there is no malignant process.If any of the above are abnormal, it is important that further testing is done, usually meaning that the area should be surgically removed and examined.





Surgical Biopsy

The operation is usually a "day stay", or outpatient procedure - involving a half day or less.

Local with sedation, or general anaesthesia is used, so make plans to have someone collect you and be available at home until the next day.
Do not drive the car especially, and be careful doing things where you could harm yourself or others. However modern anaesthetic drugs are vastly better than they were 10 years age, and you will probably feel normal within a few hours.

Our aim is to precisely locate the abnormality with the mammogram, and/or ultrasound, then remove it with surgery. Deeper or less distinct lumps or areas may need to be marked with a thin wire called a hookwire, inserted under x-ray control by a radiologist - this is done with local anaesthetic. Soon after the surgeon will remove the area, and get it x-rayed and/or Ultra-sounded, to make sure that the area of concern is removed.

Of course the pathologist will examine the specimen (as alway) under the microscope, after special staining which shows up any abnormal or malignant cells. Sometimes we do a "frozen section", in which the specimen is examined in theatre by the pathologist.