What is a Bone Metastasis?

A bone metastasis occurs when cancer starts in another organ and spreads to the bone. Cancer that spreads from its original location to another part of the body is called “metastatic,” and is named after the part of the body where it began. For example, breast cancer that spreads to the bone is called “metastatic breast cancer”.

• The bones are one of the most common places for cancer to spread, along with the lymph nodes, liver and lungs. Cancer cells can break off from the primary tumor in another part of the body and travel to the bones through the blood vessels or lymphatic system.
• The cancers most likely to spread to the bone are breast, lung, prostate, kidney, and thyroid.
• Bone metastases occur more frequently than primary bone cancer, or cancer that starts in the bone.
• When cancer spreads to the bones it is most likely to spread to the spinal cord, pelvis, ribs and/or long bones of the arms and legs.