Thirty years ago, Scott's story would have been unheard of. But today, advances in orthopedic procedures are restoring quality of life by preventing bones from breaking and alleviating pain. Thousands of cancer patients in the United States develop metastases to their bones, said Dr. Harrelson. Bony metastases usually spread from tumors in the breast, prostate, kidney and lungs, explained Steven Gitelis, MD, associate chairman of the department of orthopedic surgery at Rush Medical College in Chicago. When these tumors spread, they charge through the lymphatics and bloodstream, hunting for areas like the hip, the femur and the spine.
Some tumors even break bones.
If surgeons detect a metastasis early, however, they can prevent pain and fractures. To do this, they first must assess symptoms thoroughly. The primary symptom of bone metastases is extreme pain, especially when patients walk, said Dr. Gitelis. The pain also may be more present at night. Next, these specialists will study blood, enzymes, proteins and minerals.