Bone Metastasis: A Case Study

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Part 1: What's the Life Expectancy of Bone Metastasis?
The prognosis (outcome) of cancer that has spread to the bones varies according to many factors. Bone metastases life expectancy depends on the type of primary cancer, your response to treatment, bones affected, severity of bone damage, etc. Various treatments for bone metastases can help relieve symptoms and prolong life. In general, patients with bone metastases from breast or prostate cancer tend to survive longer than those with lung cancer. In addition, emotional support from family members and friends plays an important role in bone metastases life expectancy.
However, it should be noted that when cancer has invaded the bones, the chances for living more than 5 years is generally …show more content…
Radiation therapy
Radiation therapy is commonly used to treat bone metastasis. Radiation may be administered as an external beam or as systemic therapy.
External beam therapy is used to treat spinal cord compression and bone pain as well as to prevent or heal fractures (broken bones). In this treatment, radiation beams from a machine, which is directed to the surface of the skin to a specific bone area that needs the treatment. Only a short radiation therapy course is often needed for bone metastases.
Systemic radiation may be administered for pain affecting many bones, which is common in prostate cancer. This type of therapy uses radioactive drugs that are given through a needle (intravenous). The most common are samarium-153 and strontium-89. It usually involves only one dose.
Side effects may depend on the type of therapy, the specific area of the body being treated and the duration of treatment. You may experience a temporary increase in bone pain before improvement is felt.
2. Bisphosphonates
These are drugs that help retard the breakdown of affected bones. They are often used to help reduce problems associated with bone metastasis, such as hypercalcemia, fractures and bone pain. Factors that influence the use of bisphosphonates include bone metastases, life expectancy, and type of cancer. They can be used in combination with other treatments such as chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and pain …show more content…
Pain medicines
Medicines are often used to reduce pain related to bone metastases. They are often taken as a pill, such as acetaminophen, ibuprofen and naproxen. Opioids like morphine, hydromorphone and codeine may be used to treat moderate to severe pain. Nerve pain may be treated with gabapentin and pregabalin. Common side effects include upset stomach, constipation and drowsiness.
4. Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy helps reduce bone metastases and relieve pain and other symptoms. It may also be used to in combination with other modes of therapy to kill cancer cells, since the drugs used can circulate throughout your body. Side effects depend on the type and dose of drugs used. Side effects include low blood cell count due to bone marrow suppression, nausea, vomiting, as well as mouth and bowel problems.
5. Hormonal therapy
Hormonal treatment may be used to add, block or remove certain hormones in the body to slow the growth of hormone-dependent cancer cells. This type of treatment may involve the use of drugs, radiation, or surgery to manipulate the hormones.
Hormonal therapy may be used to treat and improve bone metastases life expectancy. It may help relieve bone pain and has fewer side effects compared to chemotherapy. These include hot flashes and reduced sexual
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