Primary bone cancer begins in the cells that build and maintain the bone. Throughout life, specialized cells called osteoblasts deposit new bone tissue to maintain bone density, while cells called osteoclasts resorb aged bone tissue. Over-proliferation of either cell type can lead to cancerous growths on the bone that can eventually spread to other tissues in the body, a process called metastasis. Patients with advanced metastatic bone cancers often experience a number of side effects related to their cancer growth.
Multiple Joint Pain
Many patients with metastatic bone cancer develop pain in multiple joints, with pain being the most common symptom of advanced bone cancer, according to the National Cancer Institute. During bone cancer metastasis, bone tumor cells begin to migrate away from the initial tumor to colonize on other bones. As the cancer progresses, a patient may develop bony growths on multiple bones throughout the body. The body growths lead to chronic bone pain, as the cancer growths place pressure on neighboring nerves. In addition, cancerous bony growths can interfere with joint functioning, leading to pain in the affected joints during movement. Pain due to cancer growth may be treated with analgesic medication in addition to cancer treatment.
Loss of Bone Density
Another common symptom of metastatic bone cancer is a loss of bone density in multiple areas throughout the body. When bone cancer metastasizes to other bones, the cancerous growths can begin to eat away at healthy bone tissue, leading to progressive bone demineralization and loss of bone density around the sites of tumor growth. As a result, bones affected by bone cancer become prone to fracture and injury, according to MedlinePlus. Patients with metastatic bone cancer may receive drug therapy to help slow bone loss due to cancer growth.
Difficulty Breathing
In addition to metastasizing to other bones, bone cancer also commonly metastasizes to the lungs, reports the NCI. The cancer cells travel in the bloodstream or through the lymphatic vessels and deposit in lung tissues such as the air sacs or airways. Bone cancer growth in the lungs often leads to difficulty breathing, as cancer growth decreases the air capacity within the lungs, causing shortness of breath. Tumor growth may also obscure airways within the lungs, leading to further difficulty breathing. Patients with severe bone cancer growth in the lungs may require surgery or radiation treatment to prevent further cancer growth and lung damage.
