My biopsy report is negative for cancer – What does this mean?

picture to represent dilemna of negative cancer biopsy in articel by Dr Suraj Manjunath, surgical oncologist, Bangalore

A diagnosis of cancer requires a positive biopsy confirmation by the pathologist.  However, a negative biopsy report (where the pathologist cannot see cancer in the examined biopsy sample) must be interpreted carefully. This article explains the meaning and interpretation of a biopsy that is negative for cancer.