Breast abscess biopsy

[sunflowerdaysinbeautifulmay]

Has anyone ever had a biopsy taken of a breast abscess?

I've had a lump in my breast for three months. I first noticed it after I got a breast infection that needed antibiotics. Once the pain and redness cleared I was left with a lump so the gp referred me to the breast clinic. When I went for my appointment the surgeon said it was likely an abscess but when they scanned me they decided they had to take some biopsies. It's left me a bit shocked and now I am starting to worry that something more serious is going on.

It will take about 10 days for the results. Has anyone else ever experienced this? A quick Google says that breast biopsies are often benign but my mind is already working overtime!

Just bumping in case anyone out there has any advice and can help put my mind at ease...

I've had two biopsies. Both times it came back quite quickly, less time than I was told. They were actually for the same lump, which is a fibroadenoma, not an abscess. It's benign, although I'm having it out now because it's got big.

Try not to Google or worry! It's scary, and google doesn't help at this stage. But the surgeons are generally very experienced and if they think it's an abscess, it's probably an abscess. I think they're just extra cautious around breast lumps.

If it is something else, they'll be on it.

Good luck!

I had 11 biopsies taken from a large lump in one breast that made every dr who saw it turn white. Turned out to be nothing important.

Also had an abscess in the same breast that was extremely painful. I was told to get it seen asap (by dr at airport abroad - I wasn't sure if I could fly, was extremely painful and problematic). Turned out to be nothing..but popped in bed a few days later and there was a shocking amount of "liquid" that came out if it!

I've had lots of mammograms too for breast issues.

Things that look bad are not always. But the wait for results is horrible. Really horrible.

I've found that writing lists of things I need to do each day while waiting gives me a go-to to help distract. If I'm worrying I forget what else I could/should be doing, but a list (including things like "shower" and "breakfast") helps me do things and pass the waiting time with some fewer moments of stress/panic.

Thank you both for replying. I just had such a shock because I wasn't expecting anything to come from the appointment, I was actually worried I might be wasting their time! As soon as they mentioned biopsy my mind started to race and it hasn't stopped since!

I am glad that everything turned out to be benign for you both, I'll be keeping fingers crossed that the same will happen for me x

I had a biopsy for what did turn out to need treating but the Dr. Explained that they have a kind of grading system to flag up when it's best to take a biopsy and a lot of the time it's as straightforward as "yes, we can see something but it's not 100% transparent as to what it is so we're taking a biopsy to check". The way he explained it, it was so clear it's just a routine check to get certainty, and not an indicator that they are concerned - rule everything in and then eliminate all the scary stuff.

As PPs have said, waiting is the worst. You have my full sympathy. Fingers crossed it's good news soon.

Most of the time these things are nothing.you can get in a lather or treat it like a more complicated than necessary dental exam. I’m doing the latter.

@DieDeutschLehrerin
Thank you for your kind reply. I hope that you have had the treatment you needed and are doing ok xx

Thank you @BarrelOfOtters. I'll try to stick with more complicated than necessary too. I know it's silly getting worked up over what could be nothing and I keep telling myself that when the worries cross my mind x

@sunsunflowerdaysinbeautifulmay Thank you. I had the best possible outcome and am 5 years past it all now. It was scary but it was alright in the end. Hope you can forget about it all soon too ☺️