For anyone affected by breast cancer, the journey from diagnosis to treatment is filled with life-changing decisions. Each step depends on knowing exactly where the cancer is, how active it is, and whether it’s responding to treatment. That’s where PET-CT is proving to be an increasingly powerful ally.
While it’s not typically used as the first imaging tool for breast cancer, PET-CT is playing a critical role in more advanced or complex cases, helping doctors make faster, more informed decisions that can change the course of care.

How PET-CT works in breast cancer care

PET-CT combines two powerful imaging technologies: a Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scan, which shows how cells are behaving, and a Computed Tomography (CT) scan, which shows detailed images of internal structures. Together, they give doctors a fuller picture of what’s happening in the body.
In breast cancer, the PET part of the scan often uses a radioactive glucose tracer (FDG) that lights up areas with high metabolic activity, which often includes cancer cells. These ‘hot spots’ help identify not just where cancer is, but how aggressive it may be.

When is PET-CT used in breast cancer?

PET-CT is not a replacement for mammograms, ultrasounds, or MRIs in diagnosing breast cancer. But it becomes incredibly valuable in staging, treatment planning, and monitoring, especially in certain scenarios:

1. Staging advanced or aggressive disease

When breast cancer is more likely to have spread, PET-CT can help doctors assess the full extent of the disease. It’s especially helpful for detecting metastases in the bones, liver, or lungs – areas where conventional scans might miss smaller or early spread.

2. Uncovering hidden spread

Even when other scans appear normal, PET-CT can sometimes detect cancer that’s hiding in lymph nodes or other organs. This information can influence whether a patient is offered surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, or a combination of treatments.

3. Assessing how treatment is working

By comparing PET-CT scans taken at different stages of treatment, doctors can evaluate how well the cancer is responding. This allows them to adapt treatment plans in real time, intensifying therapy if needed, or avoiding unnecessary side effects if things are going well.

4. Identifying recurrence

For women who’ve previously been treated for breast cancer, rising tumour markers or new symptoms may raise concerns about recurrence. PET-CT offers a sensitive way to investigate these signs, helping to locate new cancer activity before it becomes more widespread.

Better imaging. Better decisions.

One of the greatest strengths of PET-CT is how it supports precision in care. In breast cancer, this precision can lead to:

• Earlier detection of metastases, giving patients a head start in managing their disease.
• Clearer decisions about surgery, especially when it’s not certain whether cancer is confined to one area.
• Tailored treatment plans that match the patient’s current condition.
• Improved quality of life through more effective, less invasive treatment strategies.

It’s not just about finding cancer, it’s about finding the right approach, at the right time.

A supportive role in a complex disease

Breast cancer is not a one-size-fits-all condition. There are many subtypes, stages and patterns of spread, and every person’s experience is different. PET-CT offers a flexible, dynamic tool that can adapt to these differences, giving the care team more confidence in their choices.

At Life Healthcare, our specialists use PET-CT thoughtfully, always when it adds value, and never as a one-size-fits-all solution. For patients with complex, aggressive, or recurrent breast cancer, it often plays a key role in shaping the next step.

Hope, backed by clarity

Breast cancer can feel like an overwhelming diagnosis. But with advances in imaging like PET-CT, doctors are able to offer not just more treatment options, but more confidence that those options are the right ones.