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Medical Oncologist at Orlando Heath Cancer Institute Prostate cancer is one of the most common cancers affecting men, with 1 in 9 men diagnosed with it during their lifetime. Despite its high occurrence, when caught early, prostate cancer often can be treated successfully. Most prostate cancers are a type called adenocarcinomas, which are very slow growing—so much so that aggressive treatment of this type of cancer may be unnecessary. However, that’s not true in all cases. Some prostate cancers, while rarer, grow rapidly and can metastasize or spread to bones, including the hip, spine, pelvis and other organs. The more the cancer spreads, the more challenging it is to treat, and is considered advanced prostate cancer. Even if prostate cancer travels to your bones, it is not considered bone cancer. Rather, it is still considered prostate cancer because that was the original location of the disease development. Signs of Prostate CancerEarly on, you may notice few signs of prostate cancer. That’s because even if a tumor grows within the organ, the prostate doesn’t push against anything to create pain, so the cancer may be difficult to detect. As the disease advances, you may notice difficulty urinating, bloody urine or semen, swelling in the legs or pelvic area, erectile dysfunction or painful ejaculation. When prostate cancer cells have entered the bloodstream and traveled to the bone, you may notice bone pain, weak bones (and increased risk for fractures), spinal cord compression, stiffness, or pain in the hip, thighs or back. You also may have higher levels of calcium in the blood, which occurs as cancer cells replace normal bones. This imbalance can result in vomiting, dehydration and confusion. Treating Prostate CancerEarly prostate cancer may be treated using a variety of methods including surgery, radiation therapy, hormone therapy or chemotherapy. It also may be monitored for any growth and change. Although no cure currently exists for advanced and metastasized prostate cancer, treatment focuses on keeping the cancer from growing, reducing complications from the growth and prolonging life. Your doctor may suggest hormone therapy, chemotherapy, vaccines or immunotherapy, radiation, ablation to destroy tumors, or drugs to reduce complications that affect the bones, such as spinal cord compression or bone fractures. Outlook for Advanced Prostate CancerEven though a cure for advanced prostate cancer doesn’t exist today, significant research regarding treatment is constantly occurring as scientists study how combined therapies may improve prognosis, how to identify cancers that are resistant to certain treatments, and how new technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) can provide better information about prostate cancer cells.
Are You Interested in Learning More About Prostate Cancer?Early prostate cancer may be treated using a varietyof methods including surgery, radiation therapy, hormone therapy or chemotherapy. Our surgical oncologists may use minimally invasive, video-assisted surgery, which will minimize your pain and recovery time. Learn More OverviewBone metastasis occurs when cancer cells spread from their original site to a bone. Nearly all types of cancer can spread (metastasize) to the bones. But some types of cancer are particularly likely to spread to bone, including breast cancer and prostate cancer. Bone metastasis can occur in any bone but more commonly occurs in the spine, pelvis and thigh. Bone metastasis may be the first sign that you have cancer, or bone metastasis may occur years after cancer treatment. Bone metastasis can cause pain and broken bones. With rare exceptions, cancer that has spread to the bones can't be cured. Treatments can help reduce pain and other symptoms of bone metastases. SymptomsSometimes, bone metastasis causes no signs and symptoms. When it does occur, signs and symptoms of bone metastasis include:
When to see a doctorIf you experience persistent signs and symptoms that worry you, make an appointment with your doctor. If you've been treated for cancer in the past, tell your doctor about your medical history and that you're concerned about your signs and symptoms. CausesBone metastasis occurs when cancer cells break away from the original tumor and spread to the bones, where they begin to multiply. Doctors aren't sure what causes some cancers to spread. And it's not clear why some cancers travel to the bones rather than to other common sites for metastasis, such as the liver. Risk factorsVirtually any type of cancer can spread to the bones, but the cancers most likely to cause bone metastasis include:
April 27, 2022
Living with bone metastasis?Connect with others like you for support and answers to your questions in the Cancer support group on Mayo Clinic Connect, a patient community. Cancer DiscussionsSee more discussions
RelatedAssociated ProceduresProducts & ServicesHow do you know if prostate cancer has spread to bones?Bone pain is often the first sign that prostate cancer has spread to bones. Pain is caused by changes to the structure of the bones and inflammation from cancer cells. It may feel like a sharp pain or dull ache. It can be localized to one area or affect your whole body.
How long can you live with prostate cancer that has spread to bones?How is survival affected?. What happens when prostate spreads to the bones?Many men experience bone related problems as a result of prostate cancer or its treatment. Among other things, the spread of the prostate cancer to the bones (bone metastases) can cause severe pain and fracture (bone breaks). Hormonal therapy for prostate cancer can also cause bone loss, fracture, and joint pain.
What stage is prostate cancer in bones?Stage 4 prostate cancer occurs when prostate cancer cells break away from the prostate and spread to the lymph nodes or to other areas of the body. Prostate cancer cells that spread beyond the prostate most often travel to the: Lymph nodes. Bones.
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Symptoms of prostate cancer that has spread to the bones
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