"I was of the opinion 'take whatever' you need."
Lisa Miller, Breast Cancer Survivor

    PASS THE TISSUE
    
To more deeply understand the evolution of cancer, it is necessary to compare abnormal, cancerous tissue against normal, healthy tissue. To get normal tissue, researchers rely on donations from volunteers.

HOW DO THEY GET IT? The tissue is collected using a vacuum-assist device which uses a needle and air, and is very quiet. This device will remove all three tissue cores in quick succession. Before the procedure, skin will be cleaned, and numbed with lidocaine. The physician nicks the skin with a scalpel, and the needle is inserted into this incision. Three sample cores - taken from the upper, outer quadrant of the breast near the armpit - are removed. A nurse / surgeon's assistant holds pressure on the incision for 10 full minutes, then applies a pressure bandage. After, the donor will be given an ice pack to put inside bra.

BUT IT SOUNDS SCARY: There are differing levels of discomfort; most women report not experiencing much pain ("rather like when blood is taken at the doctor's office".) There may be slight stinging when the lidocaine is administered. Everyone has a different experience with bruising, ranging from not at all to quite a bit. There may be minimal scarring, often so small or faint it is barely visible. The entire procedure takes about an hour and a half.

WHO CAN DONATE?  To donate tissue, an individual:
* Must be a woman at least 18 years of age.
* Must alert us at registration if you are the recipient of any artificial joints or foreign objects such as pins or screws.
* Must not be allergic to local anesthetics.
* Must not be receiving a therapeutic blood thinner. (not including aspirin.)
* Must not have breast implants or have had a breast reduction.
* Must not have a pacemaker, implantable cardioverter defibrillator, history of infective endocarditis, certain congenital heart conditions or any transplanted organ.