Breast Biopsy

Jennifer Matthews: As a teenager, Sabrina Gibson found a lump in her breast. Sabrina Gibson: They took me to surgery within two or three days and I missed a whole week of school. Jennifer Matthews: At age 30, she found another lump. This time she had a needle biopsy instead of surgery. Sabrina Gibson: I was there for about four hours with them prodding and poking. I came out so bruised and it was so painful. Jennifer Matthews: Now at age 40, Sabrina has another lump. Her doctor recommended a new biopsy device to remove it. Sabrina Gibson: I was still real skeptical about it. I just didn't want the pain. I knew at least with surgery, you're asleep. Jennifer Matthews: Dr. Tim Goedde said breast biopsies have become easier for the patient and faster. He helped create this new device called the ATEC that removes tissue 10 times faster than the standard biopsy device. Dr. Tim Goedde: We can convert a 10-minute procedure down into a 1 or 2 minute procedure, which is a huge advantage for somebody who, quite honestly, has a needle in their breast and their wide awake. Jennifer Matthews: The procedure can be done in a doctor's office without sedation and recovery is easier. Dr. Tim Goedde: There's no stitches. Maybe a small Band-Aid, but that's it. Jennifer Matthews: Sabrina was relieved. Sabrina Gibson: It was so easy. It was totally painless, which he told me on a pain scale, it was going to be like maybe a one and when it was over, he said, 'So, what was the pain scale?' and I said, 'It was a zero.' Jennifer Matthews: Sabrina's lumps have not turned out to be cancerous. Now she knows if she finds another one, there's an easier way to test it. This is Jennifer Matthews reporting.