How Do I Read My Breast Cancer Biopsy Report

If your doctor suspects you have breast cancer, you’ll likely have a biopsy to determine your exact diagnosis. During that biopsy, cells, tissue or sometimes the entire lump will be removed from the breast and sent to a laboratory for testing. This testing is conducted by a pathologist and typically involves examining cells under a microscope to determine their specific characteristics.

Once the testing is complete, the pathologist will generate a report that includes his or her findings and the diagnosis. This report is called a pathology, or biopsy, report. The report may also include results from any other screenings or tests you’ve had such as mammograms, MRIs or ultrasounds. The information in this report forms the basis of your diagnosis, and it will help guide the many treatment decisions you and your doctor need to make next.


The National Breast Cancer Foundation reports that most pathology reports take one to two weeks to complete. Before you have the biopsy, ask your doctor how the results will be communicated to you. Waiting really can be the hardest part, and knowing when you can expect to hear back from your doctor about your health status can help alleviate some of the anxiety and fear that can develop around this pensive time.

Breastcancer.org, which has created a 45-page guide outlining what’s in most pathology reports, explains that depending on the doctor and the facility, you may need to receive your testing results in person regardless of whether they’re good or bad. Some doctors may offer the information in other ways, but it’s best to discuss with your doctor ahead of time what to expect.

Most pathology reports will include the following pieces of information about the cells that were examined.

This is the designation of whether the cells were cancerous or not, and the results will be listed as either malignant, which means cancerous, or benign, which means not cancerous. If your report states that the cells were benign, you have not been diagnosed with cancer. According to the Johns Hopkins Breast Center, about 80 percent of all biopsies turn out to be benign. If, however, your cell type is listed as malignant, then cancer was detected in the tissue culled during the biopsy.

source - http://health.usnews.com/health-care/patient-advice/articles/2017-08-08/how-do-i-read-my-breast-cancer-biopsy-report