Information for Patients from PPOs

This section of the AAPPO website is to help PPO staff develop better information for patients.  Patients looking for information about breast biopsy might find AAPPO’s website useful, but will also want to look at information about all of the breast biopsy options.  PPO information should help patient understand that core needle biopsy is the standard of care, i.e. that physicians themselves consider it the best approach for image detected lesions.  Patients should know that guidelines for physicians identify minimally invasive breast biopsy as the preferred route of an initial biopsy except in very unusual circumstances.  

PPOs should provide evidence-based information to patients that encourage patients to learn about options for breast biopsy and engage in a frank discussion with their physicians. In a challenge to patients to assert themselves, one leading breast surgeon authored a commentary entitled, “Where’s the Outrage?” in the Jan 2009 Journal of the American College of Surgery, and talks about it here.

Patient Biopsy Information
PPOs have a role in guiding patients to credible sources of information about biopsies.. Many patients have fear of needles or concerns about pain that impact their consideration about needle biopsy. PPOs can link to information that addresses patient concerns and clearly explains how each procedure works. For example, many patients do not know that the biopsy area is numb before a MIBB and that it is not painful. Ideally, a PPO should link to consumer sites where patients can get detailed information about issues that concern them such as accuracy, pain, scarring or cost.

Information on breast biopsy for patients is available on websites of many physician and hospital organizations, as well as through patient support groups and sometimes through health plans.  Consumer and advocacy websites generally explain the different types of procedures but often don’t recommend one type of procedure over another.

The important element for patients is to talk with the doctor and ask about all the options.

• Aetna Intelihealth
  This health plan website explains when various types of biopsies are done to test an image detected-lesion for breast cancer.
• Mayo Clinic
  This patient information site has information on types of biopsies and what to expect from the patient perspective.
• National Institutes of Health Medline Plus
  This federal government website presents information on types of biopsies.
• The American College of Radiology
  The ACR has detailed explanations and information on what to expect from various types of biopsies.
• surgery.com
  This is a commercial website that has doctor reviewed information about a variety of topics, including a complete and up-to-date discussion of breast biopsies.
• Breastbiopsy.com
  This is a commercial website that discusses the different types of biopsies and what a patient can expect for each type. 
• Susan G. Komen for the Cure®
  This women’s advocacy organization has a breast care helpline (1-877-465-6636) that can help patients understand their options for diagnosis and treatment and the risks and benefits of each.  Counselors also help the patient to formulate a list of questions for their provider.