Bone Metastasis

Diagnosis of Bone Metastasis

Bone metastasis is diagnosed using imaging tests and biopsy.

Imaging tests can identify areas of bone affected by cancer:

X-ray: Detects changes in bone structure.
Bone scan (bone scintigraphy): Highlights areas of abnormal bone activity.
CT scan: Provides detailed cross-sectional images of bones.
MRI scan: Offers high-resolution images of bone and surrounding soft tissues.
PET scan: Detects active cancer cells in bones.

Biopsy confirms the presence of cancer cells:

A tissue sample is removed from the bone and examined in a lab.

Treatment of Bone Metastasis

Treatment depends on the extent of metastasis, symptoms, and overall health. Approaches may include medicines, radiation therapy, surgery, and supportive therapies.

Bone-building medicines:

Strengthen bones and reduce pain caused by metastasis.
Administered via intravenous infusion or shots; pills may be less effective.
Side effects include kidney issues, short-term bone pain, and risk of jawbone osteonecrosis.

Radiopharmaceutical medicines:

Low-dose radioactive medicines travel to cancer in the bones and relieve pain.
Side effects may include low blood cell counts due to bone marrow effects.

Chemotherapy:

Treats cancer that has spread to multiple bones using strong medications.

Hormone therapy:

Blocks hormones that some cancers (breast or prostate) need to grow.
Can involve medications to reduce hormone levels or surgery to remove hormone-producing organs.

Pain medicines:

Over-the-counter or prescription medications to manage pain.
A pain specialist can help optimize relief.

Targeted therapy:

Uses drugs that attack specific chemical pathways in cancer cells.
Effectiveness depends on testing cancer cells for specific targets.

Radiation therapy:

Uses X-rays, protons, or other energy beams to treat one or a few bone metastases.
Helps control pain and tumor growth but does not rebuild bone.

Stereotactic body radiotherapy:

Highly precise, intense radiation aimed from multiple angles.
Often used for spinal metastases to protect surrounding tissues.

Surgery:

Orthopedic fixation: Stabilizes bones at risk of fracture using metal plates, screws, or rods.
Bone cement injection: Stabilizes broken bones that can’t be fixed with metal.
Repair of broken bones: Includes metal implants or joint replacements.

Ablation therapy:

Applies heat (radiofrequency ablation) or cold (cryoablation) directly to cancer cells.
Can relieve pain and control local tumor growth.
Side effects may include nerve damage or increased risk of fracture.

Clinical trials:

Offer access to new treatments or new uses of existing therapies.
Side effects and success rates may vary; discuss options with your healthcare professional.

Physical therapy: