Bone Scan

what is the procedure and purpose of bone scan after diagnosing "INFILTRATING DUCTAL CARCINOMA"?

[japdip]

A bone scan is a nuclear scanning test that is done to examine the bones for abnormalities ... such as cancer that has come from another area (the breast). A radioactive material is injected into a vein and perhaps a few test pictures are taken. You are then released for a period of time (an hour or more) and will then return to the hospital for your test. The machine moves slowly from one end of the exam table to the other, taking pictures of the entire body. The radioactive tracer that was injected will be absorbed by areas in the bones that are abnormal and will show up as "hot spots" on the films. Bone Scans are pretty much a routine to check for any possible invasion of the cancer from the breast into the bones. It's a rather lengthy procedure, lasting from 45 min to 2 hours total. Not uncomfortable except for the fact that must remain lying very still throughout the procedure.
Hope this helps .....