Tests to check if metastatic breast cancer treatment is working

During treatment for metastatic breast cancer, you will have regular scans and blood tests. These monitor your cancer and help show if the treatment is working.

Waiting for these test results can be stressful. To reduce the anxiety you may feel, talk to your medical oncologist or nurse before your tests and scans. They can help you prepare for a range of results.

How to know if treatment is working

You may have a range of tests to work out if your treatment is working. These include:

• physical examination
• X-rays
• CT/CAT scans 
• MRI scans
• PET scans
• Whole body bone scan (WBBS)
• blood tumour marker tests.

These tests can show if the treatment is slowing or stopping the growth of the cancer.

Usually doctors do not look only at scan results. Other factors give a more complete picture of how you are responding to treatment.

One useful way to assess whether treatment is working is to monitor your symptoms. If you feel continually better, this usually shows that your cancer is responding.

Read about Monitoring metastatic breast cancer.

Managing anxiety while you wait for scan results

You and your doctor need to know whether the treatment is working, or if the cancer is growing (‘progressing’).

When you’re waiting for test results, it’s normal to worry that the news is going to be bad and that means the treatment is no longer working. People often call this ‘scanxiety’.

It’s important to find ways to manage your wellbeing during these stressful times. Here are some tips to help:

• Think about what helped you through stressful times in the past and use those strategies again.
• Before tests or scans, ask your oncologist what options there are if the treatment needs to change.
• Remember that even if the cancer has not responded or if it has started to progress, there are usually other treatment options.
• Understand the tests you’re having, and why. Ask your oncologist how long the results may take, what the results could mean, and how they affect the treatment recommended for you.
• Book scans and tests as close as possible to the review appointment with your oncologist. This reduces how long you have to wait for your results. Make sure there is enough time for your doctor to receive all test results before you meet.