patient education : 17009--Breast Care Center- Post Procedure Instructions

Breast Care Center- Post Procedure Instructions

You may have some slight swelling or bruising of the breast after the procedure that may last up to two weeks or longer. You may also have some discomfort of the breast during this time as well. Bloody nipple discharge after the procedure, though rare, is usually normal. If you develop signs of infection please call us or your referring physician.

Signs of infection include:

• Redness
• Warmth
• Increase in swelling
• Drainage from the small incision site that contains pus
• Bad odor
• Fever
• Increase of pain or tenderness to the breast

After the Procedure

• If you experience any discomfort after the procedure, you may take Tylenol as directed on the package. Do not take aspirin or ibuprofen (Advil or Aleve), as this may increase bruising and may cause bleeding.
• You may resume any medications that we asked you to stop taking 48 hours after your procedure. However, if you are taking Coumadin, Plavix, Brilinta, or Eliquis, please refer to the prescribing doctor’s instructions for restarting these medications.
• Limit your activities for the next 48 hours. Do not lift anything heavier than 5 pounds. Please avoid repeated motions of the arm on the same side as your biopsy. This would include things such as vacuuming, window washing, and weight lifting.
• If you experience any bleeding, have someone apply firm direct pressure for 10 minutes. If after 10 minutes you still have bleeding reapply firm direct pressure for another 10 minutes. If you still have bleeding proceed directly to the nearest Emergency Care Facility.
• Apply an ice pack at least 2 or 3 times on the day of the procedure. Ice decreases swelling and bruising that can cause discomfort.
• Do not shower the afternoon or evening after the biopsy. You can shower as usual the following day.
• Dermabond (skin glue) may have been applied to your biopsy site. It should peel off in about a week. If you had a steri-strip bandage applied, it will likely fall off on its own in 3 to 4 days. If not, please feel free to remove the bandage. If the skin beneath the strip gets irritated, the strips can be removed sooner. If this happens, you may be allergic to the bandage adhesive.

Results

• Biopsy results should be available about 3 business days after the procedure.
• Cyst Aspiration results, if sent for cytology, should be available about 3 business days after the procedure.
• Fine needle aspiration results should be available about 2 business days after the procedure.

YOU WILL BE CONTACTED WITH THE RESULTS.

To protect your privacy, we do not leave your results on an answering machine.

Please contact us on the fourth business day after the procedure if you have not received your results.

The physician who recommended your mammogram will also receive a report of your biopsy results.

If you have any questions or concerns relating to this procedure, please call the nurse or doctor listed below.

The radiologist can be reached at the Breast Care Center 434.297.8475.  After 5:00 pm and on weekends we can be reached through the hospital operator at 434.924.0000.

 Diagnostic Imaging Nurse       _____________________________ 434.297.4042

Diagnostic Imaging Attending _____________________________

Diagnostic Imaging Fellow ________________________________

UVA Breast Care Center

652 Peter Jefferson Parkway, Suite 200

Charlottesville, VA 22911