Skeletal metastatic disease is when cancer that began in other parts of the body, and spreads to the bones. Any cancer can spread to the bone to become skeletal metastatic disease, but it is especially common in breast, prostate, lung, kidney, or thyroid cancers. When cancer spreads from one site to another it is called a metastasis.
Symptoms
- Pain
- Damaged and weakens bones
- Can cause a break in the bone if the tumor gets large enough (pathologic fracture)
- May make it hard to participate in activities of daily living
- Anemia
Causes
- Cancer that begins in another part of the body
- All types of cancer can spread to bones but it is especially common on breast and prostate cancer
Risk Factors
- If the bone does break it can be very painful and have difficulty healing without surgery and radiation
- Effect on patient depends on how much the cancer has spread, which bones are affected, and how severe bone damage it
Prevention
- Physician must study the lesions in the bone as the treatment progresses to make sure any lesions that are presenting a risk of fracture are treated before they cause a problem
Diagnosis
- Medical history and physician exam
- X-rays
- CT or MRI
- Blood tests
Treatment Options
- Surgery to remove tumor
- Radiation
- Prophylactic fixation (surgery to stabilize the bone)
- Chemotherapy
- Endocrine therapy
