What Is Bone Metastasis?

Almost all cancers can spread to the bones, but early appropriate treatment for this condition — called bone metastasis — can extend survival. With us to tell us more is Dr. J.C. Neilson, an orthopaedic surgeon who specializes in bone metastasis with the Froedtert & MCW health network. 

What is bone metastasis? 

Bone metastasis are when cancer starts somewhere else in the body and then goes to the bone. Any cancer can cause a bone metastasis, but the most common cancers are kidney, lung, prostate and breast cancers. Bone metastasis can be painful and greatly inhibit our patients' high-quality lives. 

What are some symptoms that could indicate bone metastasis? 

Sometimes, bone metastasis are found on routine imaging and there's no pain or symptoms at all. But we really do worry about the patients who have pain. Pain suggests that the bone is weakened by the cancer and could break. And so patients who are walking or bearing weight and they have pain, we worry about them, and we do want to do everything we can to keep those bones from breaking, or if they do break, treat them so they can get back to their lives. 

Why is it important to seek treatment for bone metastasis with an experienced team? 

Bone metastasis is constantly evolving, and the treatments have come so far. Our team helped develop new treatments and continues to stay up on the most recent treatments for bone metastasis. Our team uses digital technology to deal with our bone metastasis patients on a daily basis to get them the highest quality of life and maybe even prolong their lives.