| Bone
Metastases: |
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Cancer
that has spread from its original site to another
part of the body is known as metastatic cancer.
Cancers cells can break off from the primary growth
area, get into the bloodstream and circulate to
various parts of the body. The immune system is
usually thought to be able to destroy a majority
of these cells, however, in patients with weak
immune systems, or in patients whose bodies cannot
recognize these cancer cells as being bad, they
can spread and grow in a new area. The most common
sites for this to happen in include the bone,
liver, lung and brain.
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Specific
cancers spread their cancer cells to specific areas.
Prostate cancer, for example, is more likely to spread
to the bones. Lung cancers more often spread cells to
the brain, bones and adrenal glands.
The
development of metastases represents a life-threatening
process. When metastases are found, patients
are a Stage IV cancer, or one that is incurable.
However, incurable does not mean that you will die immediately.
Many patients, especially with cancers that start in
the breast and kidney, can enjoy long periods of quiet,
non-activity of their cancer cells.
When
cancer cells spread to the bones they often produce
one of two types of reactions. These are known as lytic,
in which it appears as if an area of the bone has a
hole in it, and blastic in which the bone looks
as if it has become honeycombed and expanded.
(LYTIC AND BLASTIC SIDE BY SIDE) |
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| In
both of these situations the bone becomes
more fragile and more susceptible to breaking.
This could happen from something as simple as a
fall or picking up a child. |
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| If
this happens in the spine, there could be collapse of
the vertebral bodies (the back bone), which can cause
pain in the spine. It can also cause a much more severe
problem in which the remaining bone is pushed into the
spinal cord causing weakness and/or loss of function related
to that specific area. It could mean loss of bowel and
bladder function or paralysis. If you are having any new
pain or are having problems with bladder, bowel control
or feel muscle weakness. Please contact your Cancer Doctor
Immediately. |
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