INFORMATION SHEET: BIOPSY

After your skin examination, your Doctor may recommend a biopsy if they need more information. Sometimes, it's difficult to tell the difference between a non-cancerous spot and a cancerous one just by looking at it.

A biopsy involves taking a small sample of tissue from the area and sending it to a laboratory for testing. This helps your Doctor determine if further treatment is needed. Results typically take 1-2 weeks to come back.

The most common methods for taking the tissue sample are a shave biopsy or a punch biopsy. You'll be given a local anaesthetic to numb the area, so the procedure should be painless. It usually takes around 10-20 minutes.

Afterward, you'll have a dressing on the wound and instructions on how to care for it at home.

Your Doctor will contact you within two weeks, either by phone or SMS, to let you know the results and whether any further treatment is necessary.


Prinatable Info Sheet (PDF)