To Biopsy or Not to Biopsy, That is THE Question - Part 1
- rhonda922
- 2 days ago
- 5 min read
Do you have a breast health plan of action when a possible issue arises?
It used to be many years ago that the only “plan” was to have a mammogram then have a needle biopsy if something was questionable in the imaging results – you had cancer or you did not. The following year, you just repeated the mammogram all over again. But these days, the process and plan are more complex for many women, especially those striving to live a more holistic lifestyle.
It is not uncommon in any type of breast screening to have the need for more answers regarding the discovery of abnormal tissue or activity found during routine screening. Through conventional methods (mammogram, ultrasound and MRI) the only definitive method of determination on whether abnormal tissue is a concern or not is to undergo a biopsy. But what type of biopsy is ordered and conducted depends largely on the prescribing practitioner and not always with the patient (her history or concerns) in mind. More than ever now, women are educating themselves on their own health journey and feel the need to have a voice themselves in determining their breast health plan of action in conjunction with their practitioner when suspicious results are present.
By starting with an understanding of what options are available for actual diagnostics, knowledge of those options can help to empower women to make decisions that keep them in charge of their own lives. While the information below is not every available option one could take, it is a conversation-starting list that they can review with a practitioner until a satisfactory decision is made to biopsy or not to biopsy when screening results are questionable.
Below are two completely different plan of action approaches, but keep in mind that determination can be made to include aspects of both approaches when considering your own plan.
CONVENTIONAL APPROACH
With this approach a woman generally has a screening by way of mammogram, ultrasound or MRI (or possibly a combination of any of these screenings). After assessing the imaging, the results will provide a category BI-RAD classification for each breast* individually. If there is a suspicion that abnormal tissue seen in a breast is of possible concern, the next procedure ordered is a biopsy. The types of biopsies that can be ordered are:
Fine Needle/Aspiration biopsy – In this procedure a needle is used to reach any suspicious tissue or fluid and extract it for testing.
Core needle biopsy – When the imaging results strongly suggest that a large concern for a cancer is present this type of biopsy is used to generally collect more tissue than the fine-needle as it specifically provides a more definitive drilled-down diagnosis of what type of cancer (if any) is present.
Imaging-guided biopsy – Used if the area of concern is deep in the breast tissue. This biopsy uses CT or ultrasound guidance to reach the area of concern using a needle again for extraction of tissue and/or fluid. The image-guiding can be used as well if the biopsy is of a surgical nature.
Once a biopsy is conducted, the abnormal tissue is either deemed to be cancer or it is benign in nature.
HOLISTIC APPROACH
In this method of approach, the finding of abnormal tissue through screening can produce an entirely different response and sometimes produce an immediate “call to action”. Many women consider their lifestyle, stress level and the impact that the environment is having on them, and they choose to make radical lifestyle changes right away (almost as if they already have a cancer diagnosis). At the same time, they may opt for short-term monitoring by several types of screenings before making any further decision. Utilizing more frequent or other types of screenings to monitor any progression of an abnormal result can provide some peace of mind on a plan made that includes time and reconsideration. The choice of biopsy (should it be made) can look completely different by way of several different testing methods available today:
Galleri [a] – This new blood test on the market is testing up to 50+ cancer markers in the blood. It is available only through a doctor’s referral but is not currently covered by insurance. Health Reimbursement Account (HRA) dollars may cover it. The cost is $949. This test is only recommended for those over the age of 50 with a cancer history concern.
RGCC [b] – This company offers 12 different types of cancer marker tests. The tests available cover anywhere from detection of cancer in the blood to specifically testing if you can handle possible treatment considerations like Chemotherapy, natural substances and alternative therapies (i.e. mistletoe). There is an exhaustive list of all the markers they test for in each test offered. The testing needs to be ordered by a designated practitioner familiar with their exclusive panel of tests and is not covered by insurance but may be covered by HRA dollars. The cost of the OncoTrace screening is $800. There appears to be no age limitation for these tests, but referral to specific tests can be based on the practitioner’s evaluation of the individual concern.
Auria Home Test [c] – This test is done through an at-home test kit that you can order directly online. It captures tears to assess 2 small protein biomarkers specific to breast cancer. These proteins provide a clear picture of any molecular cancer activity happening in the breast specifically. An out-of-pocket expense, this test kit costs about $150. The test includes having access to a consultation with a professional member of the Auria staff afterward. The test can be done by any woman over the age of 30.
Each one of these tests offers the ability to determine if cancer is in the breast and can lead to selecting bio individually appropriate treatments and therapies to bring about whole-body healing and not just the outbreak of cancer. While many of the therapies are out of pocket expenses, they can provide extremely useful information for a woman to make decisions concerning her health and her future healthcare, making the expense well worth it for answers.
Again, this article is not an extensive listing of all the methods and avenues available to a woman, but rather a starting point for discussion with her practitioner on determining what approach works best for her.
Where does thermography fit into all of this?
Thermography can be a useful tool in non-invasive monitoring of physiology within the body. Frequent non-invasive monitoring by thermography screening can provide valuable information as to whether radical life changes and alternative therapies are needed (and if they are making a difference) as it can be done at any frequency chosen. Likewise, with this very early detection of assessing change over time, if having a definitive answer is a necessity through biopsy at some point, the determining timeline of that decision can be visually made very clear through thermography imaging – often before it is with other breast screenings.
What is important in any decision “to biopsy or not” is to have a healthcare practitioner that is in-line with you as an individual. Someone that takes the time to review your history, your lifestyle and your concerns and not just write a referral. Being able to have a frank, educated discussion with your practitioner can make decision making less fearful and ultimately provide you with peace of mind in the decision you ultimately make for yourself. You owe it to yourself to be educated and be able to speak knowledgeably about what your choices are in your plan of action.
It is the desire of Insight Holistic to continue to provide you with up-to-date information and education to empower you to make decisions that work best for you. Look for Part 2 shortly on how to further utilize thermography and other structural screenings to effectively monitor any change in breast tissue over time.
References _________________________________________________________________________
*Inquire about the official Bi-rad Classification Table for these screenings.