If your clinical exam or mammogram shows a lump or other abnormality, the next step is to determine if it is cancerous. This is done with a "biopsy" of the tissue in question. This process involves the removal of a small amount of tissue, usually through a needle, which is then analyzed in a laboratory. A biopsy involves the aspiration, or drawing out, of a few cells or the removal of the abnormality along with some surrounding tissue.

One such biopsy, performed in the comfort of MDI, is the stereotactic breast biopsy. Stereotactic is a procedure used to assist with a biopsy and for lesions that cannot be easily felt. In a sterotactic-assisted biopsy, computers map the exact location of the lump using mammograms taken from two angles. Then a computer guides the needle to the right location.

If the thought of having a biopsy makes you concerned, remember that the results can provide peace of mind. About 80 percent of biopsies are benign, meaning there is no cancer present.