When Cancer Spreads to the Bone: Surgery for Metastatic Bone Disease
Last updated Thursday, December 13, 2007
AboutBasics of metastatic bone disease Edited By: Jason S. Weisstein,
M.D, MPH
Metastatic bone disease is a serious condition in which cancer has
migrated from another part of the body, such as the lung, breast,
prostate, thyroid, or kidney into one or more bones of the skeleton.
Metastatic bone disease is not the same as cancer that originates in
the bone, such as sarcoma. As a consequence, treating metastatic cancer
that has gone to the bones is different than treating cancers that
originate in the bones. Any kind of cancer can spread to the bone, but
the most common are cancers of the kidney, thyroid, lung, breast, and
prostate.Immediate medical attention Any new bone or joint pain should be taken very seriously in a patient
who has a history of cancer, even if the cancer appeared to be in
complete remission many years ago. Metastatic bone disease is heralded
by onset of pain, usually in the arm, leg, back, or pelvis. Sometimes
patients don’t know they have cancer until it spreads to the bone and
causes enough pain that they seek medical attention. The physician then
needs to find the original location of the cancer elsewhere in the body.Facts and myths Treating metastatic bone disease may not increase the length of time a
patient lives, but frequently can increase the patient's quality of
life. Radiation is used for pain control. Radiation doesn’t
restore the integrity of the bone, and the patient may continue to be
susceptible to fractures. Surgery can sometimes help protect the bone
and make it easier for the patient to move around. The reduction of
pain and the restoration of some activities, like walking, can improve
a patient’s overall quality of life. Some people also believe
that surgery should not be performed if the patient has only a short
while to live. On the other hand, some patients think surgery is worth
enduring if it gives them even a few more months of a more active, less
painful, life. The ultimate decision on what treatments to undergo is
individualized on a patient-to-patient basis.Surgery for Metastatic Bone Disease at the University of Washington If you are interested in making an appointment to discuss this procedure, you can request an appointment using our online referrals website. To request a referral online, please click here. You can also call 206-598-4288 (outside the Seattle area: 800-440-3280) to make an appointment.
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