Some physicians may ask a newly diagnosed patient to undergo studies like x-rays in order to evaluate the presence of cancer in a distant location.  It is important to find out if the breast cancer has spread (metastasized) to other parts of the body.  There are several ways to do this.

 

Chest x-ray (CXR) – a type of x-ray that shows whether cancer has spread to the lungs.

 

Bone scan – a type of x-ray that involves the injection of a fluid, called a tracer, into the veins.  The fluid will travel to the bones, and pictures of the bones reveal if there are spots that may signal cancer. 

 

CT or CAT (computed axial tomography) scan – a type of x-ray that signals spots containing cancer.  A patient lies on a padded table while a scanner, which is a large ring, passes over and around the body.

 

MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) scan – an imaging test that is similar to a CT scan.  This test was recently recommended by the American Cancer Society to be considered for usage at the time of a new diagnosis of breast cancer and prior to surgery.  In addition to its ability to give more details about the extent of the breast cancer in the breast in comparison to other x-ray studies of the breast, it can also help the surgeon determine if there is a cancer that might be in the other breast - about 10% of newly diagnosed patients with breast cancer have cancers on the other breast.