Overview
Bone metastasis happens when cancer cells break away from where they started and spread to a bone.
Metastasis is the medical term for disease that spreads to an area away from where it started. When cancer spreads, healthcare professionals say it metastasizes or is metastatic. When cancer cells spread to one spot in a bone, it's called bone metastasis. When there is more than one area of metastasis in the bones, it's called bone metastases.
Nearly all types of cancer can spread to the bones. But some types of cancer are more likely to spread to bone. These include breast cancer and prostate cancer.
Bone metastasis can happen in any bone. But it more often happens in the spine, pelvis and thigh bones. Bone metastasis may be the first sign that you have cancer. Or bone metastasis may happen years after cancer treatment.
Bone metastasis can cause pain and bones that break easily. It's rare that cancer that has spread to the bones can be cured. Treatments can help reduce pain and other symptoms of bone metastases.
Symptoms
Sometimes bone metastasis causes no signs or symptoms.
When they happen, symptoms of bone metastasis may include:
- Bone pain.
- Broken bones.
- High levels of calcium in the blood, called hypercalcemia. This can cause nausea, vomiting, constipation and confusion.
If bone metastasis is in the spine, it can cause:
- Pain and stiffness in the neck or back from pressure on the spinal cord.
- Leaking urine, called urinary incontinence.
- Sudden urge to urinate, called urinary urgency.
- Not being able to control the passing of stool and stool leaking from the bowel, called fecal incontinence.
- Weakness in the arms and legs.
When to see a doctor
If you have long-lasting symptoms that worry you, make an appointment with a doctor or other healthcare professional. If you've been treated for cancer in the past, tell your healthcare team about your medical history and your concern about your symptoms.
Causes
Bone metastasis is caused by cancer that starts in one area and spreads to a bone. It's not clear why some cancers travel to the bones rather than to other common sites for metastasis, such as the liver.
Risk factors
Some types of cancer have a higher risk of causing bone metastasis than others do. Cancers more likely to spread to the bones include:
- Breast cancer.
- Kidney cancer.
- Lung cancer.
- Lymphoma.
- Melanoma.
- Multiple myeloma.
- Prostate cancer.
- Thyroid cancer.
