Question 1

what does bone metastases cause?

Accepted Answer

Pain etc: Bony mets can cause bony pain (  depending on the location),  fractures, spinal cord compression resulting in significant nerve deficits on extremities/weakness/can develop  paralysis etc, suppresion to the blood counts if cancer also involves the bone marrow etc.

Question 2

what are the tests for bone metastases?

Accepted Answer

X-ray,bone scan: Sometimes bone metastases (bone mets) are found before they have a chance to cause any symptoms. When you are found to have cancer, your doctor may order tests (like x-rays or bone scans) to see how far the cancer has spread. This may be done before, during, and after treatment. In other cases, a symptom such as bone pain may be the first sign of bone mets.

Question 3

is it true not all bone metastases give you pain?

Accepted Answer

True: Bone mets can be painful but aren't always.
Bone mets can lead to sre -- skeletal related events -- such as pain, fractures, or need for radation/surgery. Bone mets can be treated with bisphosphonate (zometa) or Denosumab (xgeva) as well as with radiation therapy or systemic (eg chemo) therapy.

Question 4

i'm curious. what symptoms go along with bone metastases?

Accepted Answer

Variable: From asymptomatic to symptomatic. 
Bone metastases can cause a wide range of symptoms that can impair the quality of life or shorten survival. Direct complications of bone involvement include severe pain, pathologic fractures, and epidural spinal cord compression hypercalcemia is also common related to bone mets-presented with increase serum calcium, mental status change, dehydration, etc.

Question 5

what is the definition or description of: bone metastases?

Accepted Answer

Dissemination/spread: of a cancer from its site of origin to a bone or multiple bones. This usually occurs due to cancer cells seeding distant locations via the bloodstream.

Question 6

how long can you live if you have multiple bone metastases?

Accepted Answer

Depends: It depends on the underlying cancer, progression vs. Response to therapy, age, performance status, and other issues.
Bone mets can be treated with bisphosphonate (zometa) or Denosumab (xgeva).

Question 7

i've heard different things. what exactly is bone metastases?

Accepted Answer

Bone mets: Bone metastases is spreading cancer to the bone-from a primary cancer that is located outside the bone. Cancers like breast ca, lung cancer, prostate cancer, thyroid cancer , kidney cancer  spread to the bone commonly.

Question 8

are there any cases of bone metastases which are not painful?

Accepted Answer

Yes: If the bone metastasis is not eating through the bone or causing fracture, it may not be painful.  There are patients with painless bone metastasis.

Question 9

does x-ray detect bone metastases?

Accepted Answer

Not great: X-RAYs are relatively insensitive in the detection of early or small metastatic lesions. Although CT scans are superior, CT scanning is relatively insensitive in showing small lesions, and it has the disadvantage of limited skeletal coverage. Bone scans are very sensitive (they'll pick up everything) but nonspecific (could be just arthritis).  MRI and PET scanning are accurate but very expensive.

Question 10

what's the life span of bone metastases ?

Accepted Answer

It depends: There are 2 factors that are important. One is the type of cancer and the second is the response to treatment. For metastatic breast or prostate cancer to bone that responds to hormone treatment it could be years. For melanoma that is not responsive it could be a few months.

Get Virtual Care

For Businesses

About Us

HealthTap Online Primary Care Doctors Accepting New Patients

Doctor answers about:

Bone metastases prognosis

A member asked:

What does bone metastases cause?

A member asked:

What are the tests for bone metastases?

A member asked:

Is it true not all bone metastases give you pain?

A member asked:

I'm curious. what symptoms go along with bone metastases?

A member asked:

What is the definition or description of: bone metastases?

A member asked:

How long can you live if you have multiple bone metastases?

A member asked:

I've heard different things. what exactly is bone metastases?

A member asked:

Are there any cases of bone metastases which are not painful?

A member asked:

Does x-ray detect bone metastases?

A member asked:

What's the life span of bone metastases ?

HealthTap Online Primary Care Doctors Accepting New Patients

Telemedicine

Primary Care

Manage Your Conditions

Women's Health

Children's Health

Men's Health

Senior Health

Wellness, Prevention & Lifestyle

Sexual Health

Mental & Behavioral Health

Travel Medicine

Urgent Care

Didn't find what you're looking for?

More of what we treat

Allergies

Antibiotics

Asthma

High Blood Pressure

Prescriptions

Type 2 Diabetes

For Businesses

Company

Health Content

Join Us

Download HealthTap

Questions?