What happens if you have cancer in the bones?

Pain,fracture,blood: When cancer spreads to the bones it may not cause any symptoms or problems. It can also cause bone pain. If it involves enough of the bone or if the bone is weakened enough and supports enough weight then it can lead to pathologic fracture. If the bone marrow is involved then blood counts can b decreased. For most cancers this defines it as stage 4 and requires chemotherapy or comfort care only.

Fracture risk high: People who have metastatic disease to their bones are at increased risk of what we call skeletal related events (sre) or pathologic fractures after minor injury/fall. They are also at increase risk of high blood calcium levels. There are 2 medications that are fda approved in these settings: zometa and xgeva (denosumab). Check with your doctor.