Additional Tests
There are several different tests that will be needed to determine the stage of the disease and how much it has spread. Because IBC commonly spreads to other tissues (such as bones, liver, lungs, and brain), it is important to thoroughly search the body for evidence of metastasis. You may have a few or all of the following tests:
- Chest x-ray
- Blood work to determine how your liver is functioning
- Bone scans
- CT scans of the head and abdomen
- Functional MRIs, which look for areas of increased metabolic activity
Using PET scans to diagnose cancer is a relatively new change. PET scans are a type of CT scan that look at how cells are functioning. People who get this test are injected with a radioactive sugar mixture that is taken up by different cells in the body. Because cancerous cells use a lot more sugar than normal tissue, the radioactive material will be concentrated in malignant cells and light up on the scan.
PET scans tend to be more expensive than other means of diagnosing and staging IBC. However, it is unknown whether they are more effective than older and less expensive tests. You should talk to your doctor about whether this test is best for you.
