Bone Metastasis
Bone metastasis is cancer that spreads to the bones from another part of the body. A person may have bone metastasis in one bone or in more than one bone. Cancer that spreads to the bones is different from cancer that starts in the bones (primary bone cancer). Bone metastasis is more common than primary bone cancer.
The spine is the most common area for bone metastasis. Other common areas include the:
• Hip bone (pelvis).
• Ribs.
• Skull.
• Long bones of the arm or leg.
Bone metastasis is painful, and it damages the bones. Bone metastasis damages and weakens bones in two ways. A person may have bone destruction (osteolytic damage) or abnormal bone growth (osteoblastic destruction). Both of these can make bones …show more content…
○ Headache.
○ Dizziness.
• Back or neck pain with numbness or weakness, especially if you have bone metastasis in your spine.
• High levels of calcium in your blood (hypercalcemia). When bone is destroyed, calcium is released in your blood. Symptoms of hypercalcemia include:
○ Constipation.
○ Thirst.
○ Nausea.
○ Sleepiness.
DIAGNOSIS
This condition may be diagnosed based on:
• Your symptoms and medical history. Your health care provider may suspect this condition if you are being treated for cancer or had cancer treatment in the past.
• A physical exam.
• Imaging studies, such as:
○ Bone X-rays, especially in the area where you have pain.
○ CT scan.
○ Bone scan.
○ MRI.
• Blood tests to check for anemia or hypercalcemia.
• A procedure to remove a piece of bone so it can be examined under a microscope (biopsy).
TREATMENT
Treatment for this condition depends on your overall health, the type of cancer you have, and how much it has spread. You will work with a team of health care providers to determine which treatment is best for you. Treatment will focus on managing pain, preventing bone weakness, and slowing the spread of the cancer. Treatment may …show more content…
For this treatment, you are given cancer-killing drugs. You may have chemotherapy in cycles, with rest periods in between.
• Medicines to block cells that destroy bone (bisphosphonates and denosumab). These medicines are used to control bone pain. They may help reduce hypercalcemia.
• Medicines to reduce pain (opiates).
• Endocrine therapy. These therapies slow cancer growth by blocking specific chemical messengers (hormones). Some types of cancer, including breast and prostate cancers, depend on hormones.
• Targeted therapies. These therapies involve the use of drugs that block the growth and spread of cancer. This treatment is different from standard chemotherapy.
• Immunotherapies. These therapies use the body's defense (immune) system to fight cancer cells.
• Surgery. You may have surgery to remove bone cancer or to prevent or repair a fracture.
HOME CARE INSTRUCTIONS
• Take medicines only as directed by your health care provider.
• Do not drive or operate heavy machinery while taking pain medicine.
• Take the following steps to help prevent constipation, which can result from some pain medicines.
○ Include lots of fruits and whole grains in your
Bone metastasis is cancer that spreads to the bones from another part of the body. A person may have bone metastasis in one bone or in more than one bone. Cancer that spreads to the bones is different from cancer that starts in the bones (primary bone cancer). Bone metastasis is more common than primary bone cancer.
The spine is the most common area for bone metastasis. Other common areas include the:
• Hip bone (pelvis).
• Ribs.
• Skull.
• Long bones of the arm or leg.
Bone metastasis is painful, and it damages the bones. Bone metastasis damages and weakens bones in two ways. A person may have bone destruction (osteolytic damage) or abnormal bone growth (osteoblastic destruction). Both of these can make bones …show more content…
○ Headache.
○ Dizziness.
• Back or neck pain with numbness or weakness, especially if you have bone metastasis in your spine.
• High levels of calcium in your blood (hypercalcemia). When bone is destroyed, calcium is released in your blood. Symptoms of hypercalcemia include:
○ Constipation.
○ Thirst.
○ Nausea.
○ Sleepiness.
DIAGNOSIS
This condition may be diagnosed based on:
• Your symptoms and medical history. Your health care provider may suspect this condition if you are being treated for cancer or had cancer treatment in the past.
• A physical exam.
• Imaging studies, such as:
○ Bone X-rays, especially in the area where you have pain.
○ CT scan.
○ Bone scan.
○ MRI.
• Blood tests to check for anemia or hypercalcemia.
• A procedure to remove a piece of bone so it can be examined under a microscope (biopsy).
TREATMENT
Treatment for this condition depends on your overall health, the type of cancer you have, and how much it has spread. You will work with a team of health care providers to determine which treatment is best for you. Treatment will focus on managing pain, preventing bone weakness, and slowing the spread of the cancer. Treatment may …show more content…
For this treatment, you are given cancer-killing drugs. You may have chemotherapy in cycles, with rest periods in between.
• Medicines to block cells that destroy bone (bisphosphonates and denosumab). These medicines are used to control bone pain. They may help reduce hypercalcemia.
• Medicines to reduce pain (opiates).
• Endocrine therapy. These therapies slow cancer growth by blocking specific chemical messengers (hormones). Some types of cancer, including breast and prostate cancers, depend on hormones.
• Targeted therapies. These therapies involve the use of drugs that block the growth and spread of cancer. This treatment is different from standard chemotherapy.
• Immunotherapies. These therapies use the body's defense (immune) system to fight cancer cells.
• Surgery. You may have surgery to remove bone cancer or to prevent or repair a fracture.
HOME CARE INSTRUCTIONS
• Take medicines only as directed by your health care provider.
• Do not drive or operate heavy machinery while taking pain medicine.
• Take the following steps to help prevent constipation, which can result from some pain medicines.
○ Include lots of fruits and whole grains in your