This is an automatically translated article.
Some cancers, when not treated early, can metastasize to the bones, causing patients to suffer many painful and uncomfortable symptoms. When cancer spreads to the bones, it can weaken the bones, causing paralysis, muscle weakness, and increased susceptibility to fractures. Current treatments mainly focus on relieving symptoms and shrinking the tumor, but cannot cure the disease.
1. What is metastatic bone cancer?
Metastasis is the spread of cancer cells to other parts or organs in the body. When cancer spreads to the bone, the cancer cells travel to the bone through blood or other fluids.
2. Risk factors that increase the risk of bone metastases
Any type of cancer carries a risk of metastasis to the bones. Currently, doctors cannot predict whether cancer cells will spread, however some cancers are more likely to metastasize to bone, including:
Breast cancer . Lung cancer. Thyroid Cancer. Prostate cancer . Kidney cancer. In addition, bone metastases can also occur with large tumors in the body's lymph nodes.
Ung thư tuyến giáp là một trong các bệnh ung thư có khẳ năng ung thư di căn vào xương
3. Cancer usually metastasizes to where in the bone?
Cancers can develop in any bone, but they tend to form near the middle of the body. According to experts, the most common position is the spine. In addition, cancer can also spread to the following bones:
Upper arm bones. Femur. Ribs. Hip bone. Skull.
4. Symptoms of metastatic bone cancer
When the cancer metastasizes to the bone, the patient will have the first symptom of bone pain. The pain often comes on suddenly and goes away on its own. In general, bone pain can build up over time, causing discomfort, especially at night, causing insomnia or sleep disruption.
5. Cancer metastasis to the spine
When cancer metastasizes and grows in the spine, it can compress or press on the spinal cord. This damages spinal nerves, and leads to paralysis, muscle weakness, and difficulty going to the bathroom.
If not treated immediately, cancer that has spread to the spine can cause paralysis. Treatment for this condition usually includes steroid injections, chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery. In addition, the doctor may also conduct physical therapy to help the patient regain muscle tone.
6. How does metastatic cancer destroy bone?
When cancer metastasizes to the bones, it can weaken bones, especially in the spine, arms and legs. Over time, everyday activities like sitting down in a chair or coughing can cause a person to break a bone. On the other hand, the pain often comes on suddenly and causes a sharp stinging sensation for the patient.
7. Imaging tests to diagnose bone metastases
The doctor may ask the patient to perform some tests that help to image the cancer with bone metastases inside the body, even if the patient has no symptoms. Through X-rays, your doctor can find cancerous masses and determine if bones are broken.
Bone scans can show metastases earlier than X-rays, and help check the patient's whole body right away. Other tests, such as CT scans, PET scans, and MRIs, also help doctors find out if the cancer has spread.
Hình ảnh PET chụp ung thư di căn xương ở người bệnh
8. How does metastatic bone cancer affect calcium levels?
When cancer metastasizes to the bones, calcium is released into the patient's bloodstream. If the body has too much of this mineral, the person will experience conditions such as nausea, dehydration, constipation and even coma.
9. Treatment of primary cancer
Methods such as chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and hormone therapy are often prescribed to treat the primary cancer. When drugs are given by mouth or by injection, they attack and destroy any cancer cells in the body. These are all systemic treatments, which can greatly affect the entire body and cause side effects such as hair loss, nausea, vomiting, infection, and fatigue.
10. How to treat bone metastases with Bisphosphonates
Bisphosphonates are the main group of drugs used to treat weak bones caused by cancer metastasized to the bones. This class of drugs can reduce high levels of calcium in the blood and help reduce pain and the risk of fractures.
However, the treatment of metastatic bone cancer with Bisphosphonates can cause unwanted side effects such as nausea, vomiting, fatigue, joint pain and anemia. Another serious but rare side effect is jawbone death – part of the bone in the jaw dies off. Your doctor may then prescribe another medication, such as denosumab.
11. Local treatments for metastatic bone cancer
Local treatments focus mainly on the bone site where the tumor has metastasized. These therapies work to destroy tumors or slow the growth of cancer cells in the patient's body, including:
External radiation uses high-powered energy rays to eliminate remove cancer cells. In general, external radiation is similar to X-rays, but much stronger. Excision of the tumor with heat, cold, alcohol, or electric current. Focused ultrasound destroys nerve endings in the bone surrounding the cancer. Using radioactive drugs to target the tumor. Bone cement injections help stabilize the area where the tumor is located.
12. Surgery in the treatment of cancer metastasized to the bone
Surgical methods can help patients repair broken bones by placing rods, pins, or plates to keep weak bones from breaking. However, it is best to prevent fractures, as cancerous fractures can be difficult to heal normally.
13. Pain control when cancer metastasizes to bone
In many cases, treatments for bone metastases can help reduce uncomfortable bone pain. If the pain doesn't go away, your doctor may recommend an over-the-counter pain reliever such as ibuprofen, acetaminophen, and naproxen. If these drugs do not work, the doctor will prescribe the patient other stronger drugs, such as opiates.
Một số loại thuốc giảm đau được sử dụng trong quá trình điều trị ung thư di căn vào xương
14. Notes after treatment for cancer metastasis to bone
Bone metastases often cannot be cured, but treatments can relieve symptoms and help shrink the size of the tumor. You can talk to your doctor if you have any new symptoms or side effects that you notice after cancer treatment. In addition, you can also consult a specialist about other more effective treatments.
Vinmec International General Hospital is equipped with the world's leading medical equipment system, for high image quality, helping to diagnose diseases early. Professional team of doctors with experience, in-depth and methodical training at home and abroad, many doctors with long years of experience in nuclear medicine.
In addition to recognizing symptoms of bone metastases, laboratory tests are very important in early detection of bone metastases. Bone scintigraphy allows early diagnosis of bone metastases even when the patient has no symptoms and earlier than other diagnostic methods.
Please dial HOTLINE for more information or register for an appointment HERE. Download MyVinmec app to make appointments faster and to manage your bookings easily.
