Metastatic bone disease is cancer that starts in one part of the body and moves to your skeleton. The disease can lead to pain, broken bones, and serious health problems.
There's no cure for metastatic bone disease, but treatments like radiation therapy and surgery can improve your quality of life.
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Doctors define metastatic bone disease as cancer that spreads from one part of the body into a bone. The tumor may begin in an organ, gland, or connective tissue, and the cancer cells move through the blood or lymph system into the skeleton.
Doctors also refer to metastatic bone disease as osseous metastatic disease or bone metastases.
Common sites for metastatic bone disease include the:
Metastatic bone disease is a serious condition and having it means your cancer is advanced. At this point, treatment typically focuses on stopping the spread of cancer instead of curing it. But new advances in medicine and other treatments can help you manage pain and improve your quality of life.
Bones are the third most common place for cancer to spread. (The lungs and liver are the most common.) Cancer that moves into a bone from another organ is much more common than cancer that originates in a bone.
Around 350,000 people die each year in the U.S. from metastatic bone disease, according to the National Center for Biotechnology Information.
In healthy bone tissue, new bone is always forming while old bone is breaking down. Cells called osteoblasts form the new bone and cells called osteoclasts break down old bone.
But cancer cells slow down or speed up this process, so that too much bone is being made or too much is being broken down. Either change can make a bone weaker and more prone to breaking.
Bone tumors may be:
Doctors aren’t sure what causes cancer to spread from one part of the body to a bone.
Metastatic bone disease is serious. If you have a primary cancer in another organ, you'll be monitored for any spread of the disease.
The main risk factor for metastatic bone disease is having cancer in another organ. About half of the cancers that start in other organs can spread to a bone, according to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.
Some types of cancers are more likely to spread to the skeleton, including:
Metastatic bone disease can lead to serious complications, including bone fractures, paralysis, and death.
The signs and symptoms of metastatic bone disease include:
If you have cancer or had cancer in the past, you should see an oncologist right away if you’re having any of the symptoms of metastatic bone disease. If they can identify and begin to treat metastatic bone disease early, they can help you maintain function and quality of life.
Even if you’ve never had cancer but develop bone pain, call your doctor. Some people don’t realize they have a primary cancer (such as breast or prostate cancer) until it spreads into the bone.
If your doctor suspects you have metastatic bone disease, they'll take a detailed medical history and ask you questions about your symptoms. They'll also ask about your history of cancer, medications you take, and treatments you’ve had.
Tests to diagnose metastatic bone disease
Your doctor may order imaging tests, including:
You may need a biopsy to diagnose metastatic bone disease. Your doctor will take a small piece of tissue from the tumor and examine it under a microscope. The biopsy may be done with a needle, or by a small surgical procedure.
If you have cancer, there are tests you should have regularly to identify any spread of the disease. These tests include:
Metastatic bone disease can't usually be cured. But with proper treatment, doctors can ease your symptoms and improve your quality of life.
Your treatment team may include:
Your treatment options will depend on where the cancer is and how far it has progressed. Your team may also use a combination of treatments.
Radiation is one of the most common treatments for the symptoms of metastatic bone disease. It can kill cancer cells, relieve pain, and stop the tumor from growing.
Different types of radiation include:
Medication treatments for metastatic bone disease include:
Surgery can prevent or treat broken bones. Surgeons may remove the tumor and stabilize the bone with wires, plates, or screws. They may also use bone cement to fill the gap left by the tumor.
Surgery can help strengthen your bones and make them less painful. You may be able to be more active following surgery.
There's no cure for metastatic bone disease. Your doctor will focus on managing your symptoms, relieving your pain, and improving your quality of life.
Survival rates for metastatic bone disease vary greatly, depending on where the cancer originated, when it was detected, and how far it spread.
