NECESSITY OF BIOPSYING SUSPICIOUS MASSES

Posted On: December 06, 2011 Author: The Office of Dr. Stuart Linder Posted In: Breast topics, Media

Recently, Giuliana Rancic, host of E-Hollywood Network, announced that she has breast cancer and she will now undergo double mastectomy.  As a breast specialist, I know how important it is to consider every possible mass and lesion as a possible cancer.  In fact, I believe frequently even negative mammograms can lead to false readings in which a tumor could be misdiagnosed by not undergoing a biopsy.  Undergoing early biopsy of a suspicious lesion can greatly reduce the spread of the cancer over time, allowing the appropriate surgical intervention, chemotherapy and radiation as necessary.  Giuliana will do well with a bilateral mastectomy.  Accordingly, she underwent a double lumpectomy of radiation and now she is going to move forward with a double mastectomy.  Could she have had recurrence from her breast cancer?  This was not disclosed.  In any case, performing a total mastectomy will certainly reduce the incidence of recurrence.  She will then undergo a reconstruction surgery most likely with silicone gel implant reconstruction and possibly flap muscular reconstruction as well, depending upon the amount of coverage she needs.  The moral to this story is that all masses should be biopsied in order to obtain a tissue biopsy as soon as possible.  It can be life saving.