This information should not be used to self-diagnose, or be used in place of a qualified physician’s care.

• Patients with secondary (or metastic) bone cancers are treated by various BC Cancer Agency Tumour Groups.
• For healthcare professional information on treating this cancer, please see our Cancer Management Guidelines.
• Secondary bone cancer is also referred to as metastatic bone cancer or bone metastases.
• Secondary bone cancer is cancer that has started in another part of the body and has spread to the bones through the blood stream. The original cancer is called the primary cancer.
• For cancers that begin in the bone, please refer to the separate information page about Sarcomas.

What causes it and who gets it?
Listed below are some of the known risk factors for this cancer. Not all of the risk factors below may cause this cancer, but they may be contributing factors.

• Secondary bone cancer is caused by the spread of the primary cancer through the blood stream.
• Cancers of the breast, prostate, lung, thyroid, and kidney are more likely to spread to bone if not stopped in their earlier stages.
• The most common sites of secondary bone cancer include the spine, pelvis, ribs, skull, upper arm, and upper leg bones.
• The cancer cells that have spread to bone look like and behave the same as cells from where the cancer originated.

Can I help to prevent it?

• There is no known method of preventing secondary bone cancer.

Screening for this cancer

• Bone pain
• Broken bones
• Spinal Cord Compression  may cause numbness or tingling sensations in the arms or legs, difficulty with urination, problems with walking. Spinal cord compression should be treated as soon as possible. 
• Hypercalcemia (high levels of calcium in the blood), which may cause symptoms such as:
• Nausea
• Loss of appetite
• Extreme thirst
• Confusion
• Fatigue

Diagnosis
This is a list of some or all of the tests used to diagnose this type of cancer.

• X-rays
• Bone scan
• A computerized tomography scan (CT Scan) produces a three dimensional image of the tumour. It is used to see how much the cancer has spread and what treatment should be used.
• A magnetic resonance imaging scan (MRI) produces detailed images of the tumour.
• Blood tests
• Urine tests
• Needle biopsy
• For more information on all cancer diagnostic tests, see our Recommended Websites, Diagnosis section.

• Please refer to type and staging information for the site where the cancer first developed.

Treatment
Cancer therapies can be highly individualized – your treatment may differ from what is described below.

• The method of treatment depends on the type and origin of the primary cancer and to which bones the cancer has spread.
• Treatment may prolong the patient’s lifespan and alleviate symptoms but usually cannot cure the cancer.
• Patients with bone metastases may be referred to our Pain and Symptom Management program.

Chemotherapy

• Chemotherapy may be used to treat the primary cancer.
• The choice of chemotherapy drugs and the likelihood of response depend on the primary cancer.
• Bisphosphonates are drugs that may be given to reduce bone pain and lower the risk of broken bones.

Surgery

• Surgery may be used to relieve symptoms, but it is not a cure.
• Surgery is sometimes needed to reinforce a bone with a metal support to keep it from breaking or to relieve pain if a bone is already broken.

Radiotherapy

• Radiation therapy may be used to relieve symptoms.

Coping with cancer

The Coping with Cancer section of our website is a joint project among different BC Cancer Agency departments and programs. This website section provides information and links that can help cancer patients with the physical, emotional, psychological and practical aspects of care. Each cancer experience is different, but in one way or another, many cancer patients share the same needs.

The effects of cancer and its treatment can present unique challenges: from practical concerns like money and housing, to emotional concerns like anxiety and grief. If you need support with the practical and emotional impacts of cancer, or in managing symptoms and side effects you can use the information in Coping with Cancer to connect to these resources.

Search our library catalogue

• The BC Cancer Agency Library has many resources about cancer, coping, talking to children, etc.  Please visit the Library in your Centre, call a librarian, or visit the Library online to see the many resources available.
• Automatically get a bibliography of books, videos and other items available through our library.

Recommended websites
The BC Cancer Agency has selected and evaluated these useful websites for your further information.

Bone Cancer, Secondary (Bone Metastases)
Advanced Cancer

Videos
View videos on cancer-related topics that the BC Cancer Agency produces.

How can I help with research at BC Cancer Agency?
BC Cancer Agency patients are very helpful when it comes to the fight against cancer. Here are a few ways that you can help:

• The BCCA is deeply involved in cancer research.  We operate various Research Programs, the BC Cancer Research Centre and Canada's Michael Smith Genome Sciences Centre.
• Clinical Trials – join our treatment-based research. Ask your oncologist if you qualify for a clinical trial. What are the pros and cons of joining a clinical trial?
• Tumour Tissue Repository – support our research by donating some of your cancer tissue.
• BC Cancer Foundation – support our research with a donation of money.

This information is awaiting Tumour Group approval.