Symptoms of a Bone Metastasis
Cancer that spreads to the bones can make them weak and fragile and may cause any of the following symptoms:
Bone pain
Bone fractures or breaks
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Hypercalcemia (excess blood calcium)
Hypercalcemia, or excess calcium in blood, is caused by cancer cells as they damage bones. Calcium is released into the blood and accumulates where the kidneys can no longer get rid of it. Hypercalcemia can cause thirst, constipation, frequent urination, nausea, confusion, and fatigue. More serious cases may cause coma or kidney failure.
If the cancer spreads to the bones in the spine, it can press on the spinal cord (spinal cord compression). The spinal cord contains nerves that help control different parts of the body. If the tumor grows large and presses on these nerves, it may cause the following symptoms:
Neck or back pain
Weakness or numbness in the arms, legs, and/or abdomen
