Take It from Us

Surgical Snip-Snip
A surgical biopsy is just that—surgery. The surgeon
removes a small lump of tissue, much like a lump-
ectomy. (See Chapter 7, “Taking Your Lumps:
Lumpectomy,” for all the details.) Sometimes the
surgical biopsy follows a needle biopsy.
It’s Not the Avon Lady Calling
The biopsy results give the final word. Malignant or benign. Up until now, you had
“maybe,” “probably,” “possibly,” or “suspicious.” You’ve also probably worried your-
self into a frenzy. You’ve waited for the appointment to get the biopsy. You’ve waited
for results from the biopsy. The waiting seems interminable. Keeping busy is the best
remedy, but quite frankly, not knowing is in many ways worse than knowing the
worst. Kind of like a Chinese water torture.