Cancer spreading to the bone – latest treatment technologies

Most patients with cancer develop metastatic tumour deposits in their bones at some stage. These are most often as the result of secondary spread from primary cancers in the breast, lung, and prostate, but less common cancers such as those arising in the kidney or thyroid frequently spread to bone.

Bone metastases are most often found in the spine, pelvis, the upper femur and hip, humerus, and ribs. They cause pain and weaken the bones, increasing the risk of fractures, which can be very difficult to treat because of the destruction of normal tissue in the vicinity of the fracture, and the general health of patients at the time of the fracture which is often poor. In the spine bone metastases can cause nerve damage and compression of the spinal cord leading to paralysis.

In his article for totalhealth, Image guided radiofrequency ablation (RFA) of bone metastases, Consultant Interventional Spine and Pain Physician Dr Nigel Kellow explains the latest options for treating the root cause. Up until now this form of surgery has been avoided due to the risk of collateral damage, but Dr Kellow explains beautifully how these latest technologies are really making huge improvements to quality of life.