Testing

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About Breast Cancer>Testing > Chest X-rays

Chest x-rays

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A chest x-ray, also called a chest radiograph, is a test in which a machine takes a picture of your lungs, heart, airways, blood vessels and bones of the chest and upper back. This picture helps your doctors assess the health of this area of your body. It can be used to look for the cause of shortness of breath, or to check for pneumonia.

The test can also be used to check if cancer has spread to the lungs. In metastatic breast cancer, a chest x-ray can be used to monitor whether a treatment is working, or whether there is a complication from chemotherapy.

Getting the test

During a chest x-ray, you will be exposed to a very small amount of radiation. You will not have to prepare for the test, but you may need to remove some clothes, your jewelry and other metal objects.

You will stand against an x-ray machine, or you will lie on a table with an x-ray machine above you. The test itself only takes a few minutes, but you will need to stay in the testing center until the technician makes sure that the pictures are clear.

 

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About this page
Glossary
About LBBC

Reviewed and updated: August 31, 2015

Reviewed by: Marion Brody, MD

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Living Beyond Breast Cancer is a national nonprofit organization that seeks to create a world that understands there is more than one way to have breast cancer. To fulfill its mission of providing trusted information and a community of support to those impacted by the disease, Living Beyond Breast Cancer offers on-demand emotional, practical, and evidence-based content. For over 30 years, the organization has remained committed to creating a culture of acceptance — where sharing the diversity of the lived experience of breast cancer fosters self-advocacy and hope. For more information, learn more about our programs and services.