When cancer starts spreading from one place to different parts of the body, it’s called metastasis. If a cancerous tumor reaches the bone, the condition is termed bone metastasis. Different types of cancer spread to different parts of the body, such as the breast, lungs, kidney, thyroid, bladder, and prostate. Gradually when left untreated, cancer or tumor spreads to the bone leading to metastasis.
Here’s everything you need to know about the condition.
What is bone metastasis?
The first thing to understand is that bone metastasis is not the same as a cancerous tumor that develops in the bone. The one which starts in the bone is termed primary bone cancer, such as Ewing sarcoma and osteosarcoma.
Metastasis or the condition in which cancer spreads to a certain part of the body, in this case, the bone is not formed of bone cells. Bone metastasis is an amalgamation of abnormal cancer cells that starts from the primary tumor site.
To explain it with an example, lung cancer that reaches and affects the bone is composed of lung cancer cells. The bone metastasis due to lung cancer is termed metastasis lung cancer.
The cancer cells that eventually reaches the bone affect areas like the skull, spine, rib cage, pelvis, or limbs. Cancer spreading from tumor in different parts of the body leads to two types of bone tumors explained below:
- The tumor can eat away certain bone areas, forming holes called osteolytic lesions. These holes further make the bone weak and fragile. The bones are more at risk of breaking or fractures. It may be painful for most patients.
- The tumor causing the bone to develop abnormally. In most cases, these form in the parts of a new bone and are termed osteoblastic lesions or osteosclerotic. They are rigid (hard), but weak and unstable, which makes them easy to collapse or break. It also leads to pain.
Symptoms of bone metastasis
Bone metastasis can show common symptoms like:
- Bone pain
- Broken bones
- Nerve issues
- Loss of appetite
- Constipation
- Nausea
- Thirst
- Confusion
- Tiredness
Note: If bone metastasis starts affecting the bone marrow, it may result in various symptoms like lower blood cell counts. It leads to anemia. If it affects the WBCs (White Blood Cells), it may lead to certain infections that show symptoms like chills, fevers, pain or fatigue. In case the blood platelets get low, it may lead to bleeding and bruising.
Diagnosis and treatment options for bone metastasis
The common imaging tests to diagnose bone metastasis include:
- Bone scan or bone scintigraphy
- PET (Positron Emission Tomography)
- MRI
- CT scan
- X-ray
- Biopsy
Talking about the treatment options, an orthopedist offers the following based on the severity of the condition:
- Bone-building medications
- Hormone therapy
- Steroids
- Intravenous radiation
- External radiation
- Chemotherapy
- Targeted therapy
- Pain medications
- Surgery
- Physical therapy
- Heating and freezing the cancer cells
If you have any symptoms of bone metastasis, meet an orthopedic for a detailed diagnosis and avail the best treatment options depending on your condition.