What is an x-ray?
Why might I need an x-ray?
The type of x-ray you have depends on the part of your body the doctors want to examine. Some common types include:
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A chest x-ray
This is to check your lungs are healthy, or to look for changes that may be caused by a cancer.
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A bone x-ray
This is to check whether there is a problem in a bone or joint, or to look for signs of cancer.
What happens during an x-ray?
Having an x-ray is not painful and only takes a few minutes. The person doing the x-ray (a radiographer) might ask you to change into a gown. You will be asked to remove any jewellery or anything containing metal.
You might have the x-ray sitting up, lying down or standing. This depends on the part of your body that is being x-rayed.
After the x-ray
You will not have any effects after a standard x-ray.
All x-rays expose the body to radiation, which can slightly increase your risk of developing cancer. However this is not common, and the risk is very small compared to the benefit of having the x-ray. Your doctor can tell you more about this.
You will usually get the results within a few days. Waiting for test results can be a worrying time. Talking to your family and friends about how you feel can help. You can also speak to your doctor or nurse if you have any problems, or if you need more support.