Why do doctors say that bone metastases do not need to be treated?

When a tumor develops bone metastases it often signals advanced stage, but it does not necessarily mean that there is no treatment. Usually tumor bone metastasis may lose the chance of surgery, but there are some tumors that can be treated with radical surgery at discretion. Even if it has been determined that surgery is inoperable, conservative treatment can be used to achieve the purpose of reducing pain and prolonging life: 1. Surgical treatment: Some patients with bone metastases can undergo radical surgery, such as tumor-based joint prosthesis replacement and total vertebral body replacement, if the metastases are single and small and their physical conditions allow. Some patients with bone metastases can also be treated by palliative surgery, such as decompressive internal fixation of vertebral body metastases and bone cement treatment. After surgery, metastasis and recurrence should be actively prevented in the rest of the body. 2. Conservative treatment: Usually, for patients with bone metastasis who have lost the chance of surgery, different treatment methods are chosen according to the severity of metastasis, the type of primary tumor and the patient’s own condition. Commonly used treatments include radiotherapy, chemotherapy, endocrine therapy and immunotherapy. In addition, oral analgesic drugs can be taken according to medical prescription to relieve the pain caused by tumor invasion, and actively treat tumor complications such as anemia and hypothermia through the application of drugs. 3. Actively cooperate with the treatment and maintain an optimistic attitude, so that patients can improve their quality of life and prolong their survival time as much as possible.