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Preparing for a biopsy

What If You Are — Unwell on Biopsy Day?

A fever or active infection on the morning of your biopsy is not something to push through. Most centres will postpone the procedure rather than risk a complication. Calling early, before you travel, is the right first step.

Medically reviewed by Dr. Bharati Devi Gorantla, Medical Oncologist, MBBS · MD · DM (Adyar, Chennai) · ECMO · MRCP SCE (UK) · Last reviewed September 2026

  • Call before you travel — If you have a fever or active infection, call your centre first — most will ask you to postpone.
  • Active infection changes the risk — A biopsy creates a pathway into the body. Infection at the time raises the chance of a serious complication.
  • Postponing is the safe choice — A short delay to recover is almost always better than proceeding with an active infection.
  • Calling early is not a problem — Centres handle same-day cancellations regularly. You will not be penalised for calling as soon as you realise.
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If you have a fever or signs of active infection on the day of your biopsy, call your centre before you travel. Most centres will postpone rather than proceed. Going ahead with an active infection raises your risk of a serious post-procedure complication. There is no good reason to push through.

What should you do if you feel unwell on biopsy morning?

  1. Check your symptoms before you leave home

    Take your temperature if you can. Make a note of any new symptoms — fever, chills, vomiting, or signs of a new infection. This helps when you speak to the centre and means you do not have to remember everything under pressure.

  2. Call your centre as early as possible

    Call the moment you realise something is wrong, even if your appointment is hours away. Early notice gives the team time to offer your slot to another patient and avoids a wasted journey for you.

  3. Describe your symptoms clearly when you call

    Say when the symptoms started, whether you have a fever, and whether a doctor has seen you recently for an infection. The nurse or coordinator will advise based on what you tell them.

  4. Follow the centre's advice

    If they say postpone, postpone. If they say come in, come in. Do not decide on your own that a fever is mild enough to ignore — that judgement belongs with the clinical team.

  5. Confirm your rescheduled date before you end the call

    Ask when you can rebook and whether the preparation — fasting, medication adjustments — applies again. Ask for the new date in writing by message or email before you hang up.

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Which symptoms mean you should call before you travel?

  • A temperature higher than your normal, or any feeling of fever or chills
  • Vomiting or loose motions that started in the last 24 hours
  • A new cough, sore throat or blocked nose that came on in the last two days
  • A wound, tooth, skin area or gum that has become red, swollen or painful recently
  • You were told recently that you have an active infection and are on antibiotics
  • You feel clearly worse today than you did yesterday, even without an obvious reason

How unwell is too unwell to go ahead?

Your symptomWhat the centre will likely decideWhat you should do now
Mild cold, improving, no feverMay proceed — the centre decides after hearing your symptomsCall and describe how you feel; do not assume it is fine to attend
Fever at any levelPostponeCall before you travel; do not come in unannounced
Active skin, dental or wound infectionPostponeCall before travelling; bring any prescriptions when you rebook
Vomiting or loose motions since yesterdayPostponeCall before you travel; reschedule once symptoms have fully settled
On antibiotics for a new infection started this weekUsually postponeCall ahead and tell them the antibiotic name and when you started it
Cold or cough from over a week ago, clearly improvingMay proceed — centre decidesCall and describe your current symptoms so the team can judge

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Common questions

Frequently asked questions

Will I be charged if I cancel on the day because I am unwell?

Centres vary, but cancelling because of a fever or active infection is a medically justified reason and is treated differently from a no-show. Call as early as possible on the day — the earlier you call, the more likely the centre can accommodate your cancellation without a charge. Ask clearly when you call whether a fee applies and what documentation, if any, they need from you. If you have health insurance covering the procedure, check whether your policy also covers a medically-justified postponement.

Can I take paracetamol to bring the fever down and still go?

No. Paracetamol can reduce a fever temporarily but does not treat the infection causing it. A biopsy performed during an active infection — even a temporarily masked one — carries a higher risk of introducing that infection deeper into the body or of the biopsy site itself becoming infected. Suppressing the fever removes the symptom that would tell the clinical team the risk is still present. Call your centre instead of attempting to manage this yourself.

Does a cold or cough really matter for a biopsy?

It depends on how unwell you are and on the type of biopsy. A mild cold that is clearly getting better and involves no fever may not be a reason to postpone — but that is a decision for your centre, not one to make on your own. A cold with fever, or any symptom that suggests active infection rather than the tail end of one, usually does matter. Call and describe your symptoms accurately. Do not minimise what you tell them, because the team is making their decision based on what you say.

How soon after recovering can the biopsy be rescheduled?

Ask your team when you call to postpone — they will give you a realistic timeframe based on the type of infection, the biopsy site, and whether you are still on antibiotics. They may want to know when your antibiotic course ends before confirming a new date. Your centre will set the appropriate wait rather than a general rule applying to everyone.

Will postponing affect my cancer treatment?

A short delay to allow recovery is almost always safer than proceeding with an active infection. Your oncology team understands how important timely results are and will prioritise rescheduling as quickly as your recovery allows. If you are worried about the delay, say so clearly when you call — the team can explain where the biopsy result sits in your overall care plan and whether a short wait changes anything meaningful for your situation.

Full index

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Understanding Your Report

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IHC and Molecular Markers

IHC and Molecular Markers on a Biopsy: What They Mean →

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How Accurate Is a Biopsy?

How Accurate Is a Biopsy? Errors and Second Opinions →

If Your Result Is Benign

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