Bone metastasis is a process in which certain malignant tumors originating outside the bone tissue metastasize to the bone tissue through the bloodstream, causing damage to the bone tissue.
The process of bone metastasis is more complicated. Tumor cells outside the bone tissue reach the bone marrow through the bloodstream, interact with various bone cells (osteoblasts, osteoclasts, etc.), destroy normal bone tissues, release various growth factors, and the tumor cells continue to proliferate and form metastatic foci. Bone metastasis can be categorized into osteolytic (lung cancer, breast cancer), osteogenic (prostate cancer) and mixed.
The main symptoms of bone metastasis are pain, pathologic fracture, spinal cord compression and so on. Based on the presence of other primary tumors, the diagnosis can be confirmed by CT, MRI, bone scan and other auxiliary examinations.
Bone metastasis often represents that the cancer has entered the advanced stage, and its treatment mainly includes anti-tumor therapy (radiotherapy, chemotherapy, etc.) and symptomatic management of pathological fractures and pain brought by bone metastases.
When bone metastasis occurs, one should consult the doctor in time and follow the doctor’s instructions to take reasonable treatment plan to prolong life and improve the quality of life.