What is a biopsy?
A biopsy is when doctors remove a sample of cells or tissue from an area of the body. A specialist doctor called a pathologist examines the sample under a microscope to look for signs of cancer and work out what type of cell is affected. This can point to where in the body the cancer may have started.
How are biopsies taken?
For a biopsy, you will usually have a local anaesthetic to numb the area. In some cases, you may need a general anaesthetic, which puts you to sleep.
There are different ways of taking a biopsy and you may need more than one type. A biopsy is often done using an ultrasound or CT scan to guide the needle to the correct place. You might not have a biopsy if the cancer is too hard to reach or if you are too unwell for the procedure.
Common types of biopsies used to diagnose cancer include:
| fine needle aspiration | removes cells using a thin needle |
| core biopsy | removes tissue using a hollow needle |
| incision biopsy | cuts out part of a tumour |
| excision biopsy | cuts out the whole tumour |
Tests on the biopsy sample
Using special stains (immunohistochemistry)
After the biopsy procedure, the sample will be sent to a laboratory, where a pathologist uses a series of stains on the sample. These stains may show changes in the cells or highlight markers (e.g. specific proteins) that are linked to certain types of cancer.
Looking at the molecular level
In some cases, you may be offered extra tests on the biopsy sample. These are called molecular or genomic tests, and they look for gene changes and other features in the cancer cells that may be causing them to multiply and grow. The results may suggest what the primary cancer is most likely to be and which targeted therapy drugs may work best to treat it.
Molecular testing can be expensive. Medicare sometimes covers the cost of molecular testing, but not always. Check what you will have to pay and how helpful the testing would be in your situation. If you are having molecular testing as part of a clinical trial, the costs may be covered. Ask your cancer specialists for more information about these specialised tests.
Learn more about molecular testing.
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