Bone Metastases

Metastatic cancer is a cancer that has spread from the part of the body where it started (the primary site) to other parts of the body. When cancer cells break away from a tumor, they can travel to other parts of the body.
Sometimes the metastatic tumors have already begun to grow when the cancer is first found. And sometimes, a metastasis may be found before the original (primary) tumor is found. If a cancer has already spread to to other parts of the body before it’s first diagnosed, it may be hard to figure out where it started.

Symptoms of bone metastasis

• Pain
• Fractures (broken bones or breaks)
• Spinal cord compression
• High blood calcium levels

Treatment of bone metastasis

The treatment will depend on the type of cancer as well as the number and location of bone metastases. Sometimes treatment being used to treat the main (primary) cancer will help shrink the metastases. Other times medicines made to stop the effects of the cancer on the bone may be given. In addition, some more local treatments, like radiation therapy or even surgery, can help relieve the pain.