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Bone Metastasis

Bones are common sites for metastasis. Almost all cancers can spread to the bones and some spread more frequently than others:

• Breast Cancer

• Colon Cancer

• Lung Cancer

• Prostate Cancer

• Stomach Cancer

• Ovarian Cancer

• Kidney Cancer

• Malignant Melanoma

• Esophageal Cancer

• Head and Neck Cancers

• Testis Cancer

This is a partial list and almost any cancer can spread to the bones.

Symptoms:

Symptoms associated with this condition vary, depending on the extent of bone involvement. Most patients are diagnosed with bone metastasis on a routine work up of the cancer, although they may display no symptoms at all. Others present with an advanced disease, in which case the symptoms are:

• Bone pain

• Back pain

• Bone fracture

• High Calcium levels

Diagnosis:

A routine x-ray, Bone scan or MRI study can establish the diagnosis. Once the diagnosis is established, treatment should be initiated promptly.

Treatment:

• Virtually all patients are treated with systemic treatment using chemotherapy or hormone therapy.

• Radiation therapy may be used in selected patients, when tumor causes pain or fracture.

• Surgery in selected patients to stabilize bone.

Response to treatment depends on the patient's overall condition and the type and extent of the underlying cancer.