The area where the tumour first develops is called primary cancer. Sometimes, cancer cells can break away from the primary tumour and move through the bloodstream or lymphatic system to another part of the body, where they create a new, secondary cancer. 

Some particular types of cancer are more likely to spread to the bones than others, such as prostate, breast, lung, thyroid, and kidney cancer. Cancers can also metastasise to any bone in the body. Occasionally, only one bone is affected, but for most people with secondary bone cancer, it spreads to several different sites. The most common areas of secondary bone cancer are the:

• Spine 
• Ribs 
• Pelvis 
• Upper bone of the arm (humerus) 
• Upper bone of the leg (femur) 
• Skull

We understand that this can be a difficult time for you, and we’ll make sure you can get the expert care you need without delay. Most people with secondary bone cancer are diagnosed after knowing they have primary cancer somewhere else. 

In some cases, secondary bone cancer may be found before you’ve been diagnosed with primary cancer. If the primary cancer can’t be found, you may hear this called a “cancer of unknown primary”.  

Doctors typically diagnose secondary bone cancer with a combination of tests. Some of these tests are available at GenesisCare and include:

• Blood test 
• Bone biopsy 
• X-ray 
• CT scan 
• MRI 

Secondary bone cancer can cause a range of symptoms, and there are treatments we can offer to help alleviate these and improve your quality of life. Your consultant will monitor your health and wellbeing to provide you with care that’s personalised to your needs and choices. 

Some secondary bone cancer symptoms depend on the location of your cancer, but the most common symptoms include:

• Bone pain 
• Weak bones and bone fracturing 
• Back pain 
• Low levels of different types of blood cells – this is caused when your bone marrow isn’t able to work as well (where blood cells are made) and can cause problems such as anaemia, low immunity or bruising and bleeding more easily 
• Increased calcium levels in the blood (hypercalcaemia) – this can make you feel sick, tired, constipated, very thirsty or confused 
• Pressure on the spinal cord – this can cause additional symptoms, including pain in the back or neck, weakness in your muscles and legs, numbness and losing bladder or bowel control (incontinence)

At GenesisCare, we’ll support you throughout your treatment and we have range of the latest secondary bone cancer therapies available. You may be offered one or a combination of drug treatments, radiotherapy, surgery or Theranostics.

There may also be opportunities to access clinical trials for the latest treatments for secondary bone cancer. 

• Hormone therapy – a range of different treatments which lower hormone levels to control secondary bone cancers from the breast and prostate   
• Chemotherapy – anti-cancer (cytotoxic) drugs which destroy the cancerous cells  
• Targeted therapy – a specialised group of drugs that attack or block certain processes in the cancer cells  
• Immunotherapy – therapies that help your body’s immune system recognise and fight the cancer  
• Bisphosphonates – medicines that strengthen bones, reducing the risk of bone fractures and hypercalcaemia

Radiotherapy uses high-energy radiation beams which are targeted at the cancer cells. For secondary bone cancers, it can help control pain and prevent your bones from fracturing.

At GenesisCare, we use advanced radiotherapy techniques such as volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) and stereotactic ablative radiotherapy (SABR) to treat secondary bone cancer. These treatments maximise delivery of radiation to the cancer, while the surrounding healthy tissues receive a much lower dose, reducing the risk of side effects when compared to other conventional radiotherapy treatments. 

There are different operations that can strengthen bones, reduce pressure on the spinal cord and remove cancer from the bones, depending on the location of the secondary cancer. This can be arranged conveniently at one of our partner hospitals. Your other treatments can then continue at GenesisCare.

Theranostics is an innovative and highly personalised approach that combines diagnostic imaging and radionuclide therapy to seek and destroy advanced (metastatic) cancers without damaging surrounding healthy tissue.