Tests after a diagnosis of breast cancer

You may have more tests after your diagnosis to find out:

• How large is the cancer?
• Where exactly is the cancer?
• Has the cancer spread to any other parts of your body?

This is called staging. Staging tests for breast cancer include:

• Lymph node ultrasound scan. This is a scan that uses sound waves to look at the lymph nodes in the area of your armpit (axilla), to see if they look abnormal. The scan is done in the X-ray department of the hospital. The scan is painless and only takes a few minutes. If the lymph nodes look abnormal, a biopsy (tissue sample) will be taken to see if the cancer has travelled to the lymph nodes.
• Blood tests. Blood tests can check your general health to make sure you're fit for surgery. These tests can also give information about your liver and bones.
• X-rays. X-rays can check for bone and joint problems. You may have a chest X-ray to check you are fit for surgery. You may need a spine X-ray if you're having back pain.
• MRI scan. A scan that uses magnetic energy to build up a picture of the tissues inside your body. During the scan you will lie inside a tunnel-like machine.
• CT scan. A type of X-ray that gives a detailed picture of the tissues inside your body.
• PET scan. A radioactive injection that will show up any cancer spread to other parts of your body on a CT scan picture. 
• Bone scan. A radioactive injection that can show areas of abnormal bone on a scan, which may be caused by cancer that has spread.
• Ultrasound scan of the liver. A device like a microphone passed over your tummy to give a picture of your liver. It can show any abnormal changes that might suggest the cancer has spread there.  
• Lymph node biopsy. This means taking and testing a sample of cells from the lymph nodes to see if they contain cancer cells. This can be done before surgery if the lymph nodes look abnormal on a scan.  Your surgeon may also remove lymph nodes during breast cancer surgery.