Secondary bone cancer

Secondary bone cancer is sometimes called bone secondaries or bone metastases. It happens when cancer cells from a primary tumour somewhere else in the body spread to the bones. For example, breast cancer cells that spread to the bone.

Secondary bone cancers can occur in any of the bones in the body. Sometimes only one area of bone is affected. But in most people the cancer will spread to a number of areas.

The most commonly affected bones are the:

• spine
• ribs
• pelvis
• upper bones of the arms (humerus) and legs (femur)
• skull.

Myeloma is a type of blood cancer that develops from cells in the bone marrow and often affects the bones.

Any cancer type can spread to the bone. We have more information about secondary cancer. This includes cancer types that are more likely to spread to the bone. 

People who develop secondary bone cancer usually know they have a primary cancer. But sometimes, a secondary bone cancer is found before or at the same time as the primary cancer. Occasionally the primary cancer cannot be found. This is called a cancer of unknown primary.

We have separate information about primary bone cancer.

The cause of secondary bone cancer is always a primary cancer somewhere else in the body. We do not fully understand why some people develop secondary bone cancer and others do not.

A team of specialists will meet to talk about the best possible treatment for you. This is called a multidisciplinary team (MDT).

The aim of treatment for secondary bone cancer is to control the cancer rather than cure it. Controlling the cancer allows many people to live with secondary bone cancer for a long time.

We have more detailed information about how secondary bone cancer is treated.

Managing the symptoms of secondary bone cancer is usually an important part of your treatment.

To relieve symptoms, you may be offered radiotherapy, painkillers or other medication. Treatments for the primary cancer may also treat the secondary cancer and help symptoms. You may be offered 1 or a combination of:

• Hormonal therapy
  You may be offered hormonal therapies to treat secondary bone cancer from breast or prostate cancer.
• Chemotherapy
  Chemotherapy uses anti-cancer (cytotoxic) drugs to destroy cancer cells. Whether chemotherapy is likely to help and which chemotherapy drugs are used depends on where in the body the primary cancer started.
• Targeted therapy
  Targeted therapy be used to treat some types of cancer that has spread to the bone. For example a drug called denosumab may be used to help lower the risk of fractures caused by secondary bone cancer.
• Immunotherapy
  Immunotherapy is used to treat some types of cancer. Your doctor will tell you if this is an option for you.
• Surgery
  You may have surgery to strengthen a weakened bone, to relieve pressure on the nerves in the spinal cord or occasionally to remove a secondary cancer from a bone.
• Bisphosphonates
  Bisphosphonates are drugs that can help to strengthen the bones. The aim of bisphosphonates is to reduce the risk of fractures or high levels of calcium in the blood (hypercalcaemia) and help with pain.

Other treatments may occasionally be used for secondary bone cancer.

Treatment for secondary bone cancer may be offered as part of a clinical trial.