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Tests for cancer are almost never painful because we use anesthetics; local anesthetics, which freeze the skin and underlying tissue in order to access the biopsy painlessly.

For most biopsies there are no risks in having the procedures performed and there are no associations between biopsies and the spread of cancer. However, for some specific and rare cancers it is felt better not to do the biopsy at the time, but to wait and carry out a definitive surgery. Either way, a tissue diagnosis has to be made whether that is by biopsy or by surgery.

A biopsy is a procedure that involves removing a small sample of tissue from a living subject to check under a microscope in order to determine the presence or extent of a cancer. Cancer can only be firmly ruled in or out by taking a tissue sample. Therefore, it is important for a biopsy to be taken prior to a diagnosis of cancer.

There are three kinds of biopsies: (i) incisional biopsy or core biopsy is when a sample of tissue is removed; (ii) a needle biopsy or fine-needle aspiration is when a sample of tissue or fluid is removed with a needle and (iii) an excisional biopsy is when a whole tumor or lesion is removed.