Need a punch biopsy? Here’s what to expect
As a dermatologist, I examine skin all day, every day. If I see something concerning on your skin, I may perform a punch biopsy to learn more about it. A punch biopsy is a minimally invasive procedure that takes a sample of your skin to check for signs of disease.
Here, I’ll answer common questions about punch biopsies.
What does a punch biopsy test for?Typically, we’ll do a punch biopsy if we see a rash...
Thyroid biopsy: Purpose, process and recovery
The thyroid is a butterfly-shaped gland in the front of your lower neck. A thyroid biopsy is a procedure that helps diagnose or rule out thyroid...
Prostate biopsy explained: Process, recovery and results
A prostate biopsy is a procedure that helps diagnose prostate cancer. The prostate is a gland found only in males and is part of the reproductive...
Bone marrow biopsy explained: Process, pain management and results
A bone marrow biopsy is a procedure that helps diagnose diseases and other conditions in the blood and bone marrow. MD Anderson performs about 10,000 of these procedures each year.
Here, I’ll address common questions about bone marrow biopsies.
What is bone marrow?Bone marrow is the soft, spongy tissue located inside your bones. Red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets all come from bone marrow.
Why would a...
9 things to know about breast biopsies
Getting a breast biopsy? You might be wondering what it is and how it works.
A breast biopsy is a diagnostic procedure in which a doctor...
After rectal cancer diagnosis, horse trainer is back in the saddle again
As a horse trainer, Trey Bullinger spends hours in the saddle every day. That’s why he blamed hemorrhoids when he noticed blood in his...
Racing despite adenoid cystic carcinoma metastasis
In the last five years, I’ve competed in 10 professional outrigger canoeing competitions across North and South America. I’ve also had stereotactic...
Triple-negative breast cancer survivor finds hope with clinical trial
A little over a year ago, Robbie Johnson was desperately searching for the right metastatic breast cancer treatment.
"I’d been...
Bond built during breast cancer treatment inspires survivor to volunteer
It had been two years since Billa Woollam’s last mammogram, and she knew she was long overdue for one. But it was a strange sensation in her...
Ovarian cancer diagnosis and treatment: What’s new
Because its symptoms are often vague, ovarian cancer can be hard to diagnose. And a definitive diagnosis requires a biopsy, which is best...