Diagnosis, investigations and tests

Patients with a history of breast cancer are invited for regular monitoring and screening. This is essential as it can help detect metastatic disease when it is at an earlier more treatable stage. You may also be invited for further diagnostic tests and investigation if you are experiencing symptoms that suggest that your cancer has spread. This could include some of the following tests:

 

Biopsy - the doctor will remove a small piece of tissue or cells, which is then checked for cancer cells under a microscope in our laboratory to confirm the presence of cancer cells.

 

CT scans - CT scans take pictures of your body. This normally takes around 10 minutes. Find out more about CT scans.

 

MRI Scan - MRI uses magnetism and radio waves to create a cross sectional picture of the body. The scan itself normally takes around 45 minutes to one hour. Learn more about MRI scans.

 

PET scans –  Positron emission tomography (PET) scans produce detailed 3-dimensional images of the inside of the body. They are used to determine the extent and location of the metastasis (where your cancer has spread). Discover more about PET scans.