These are some signs and symptoms of secondary bone cancer. If you notice any of these symptoms, see your doctor.
| bone pain | This is often the first and most common symptom. The pain may be a dull, persistent ache. It can get worse with movement and is often worse at night. |
| fractures | Cancer cells can weaken the bones and cause them to break more easily, often with little or no force (this is known as a pathological fracture). |
| high calcium levels in the blood (hypercalcaemia) | As the bone breaks down, calcium is released into the bloodstream. When calcium builds up in the blood, it may cause severe tiredness (fatigue), a feeling of sickness (nausea), vomiting, thirst, constipation or confusion. |
| pressure on the nerves in the spine (spinal cord compression) | Abnormal bone growth or fractures can press on the nerves in the spine. This may cause back pain, muscle and limb weakness, tingling or numbness of the limbs, difficulty walking, or loss of bowel or bladder control. |
| low levels of blood cells | Secondary bone cancer can affect the bone marrow, particularly if there is a large amount of spread to the bones. The bone marrow makes blood cells, so the cancer can lead to low levels of blood cells. Symptoms depend on the type of blood cells affected. You may feel tired and breathless, have an increased risk of infections, or bruise and bleed more easily. |
→ READ MORE: Diagnosis of secondary bone cancer
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Prof Angela Hong, Radiation Oncologist, Chris O’Brien Lifehouse, and Clinical Professor, The University of Sydney, NSW; Anne Booms, Nurse Practitioner Supportive and Palliative Care, Icon Cancer Centre Midlands, WA; A/Prof Richard Boyle, Orthopaedic Surgeon, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital Sydney, NSW; Belinda Fowlie, Bone Tumour Nurse Practitioner Candidate, SA Bone and Soft Tissue Tumour Unit, Flinders Medical Centre, SA; Dr Tahlia Scheinberg, Medical Oncologist, Chris O’Brien Lifehouse, NSW; Dr Clare Zachulski, Palliative Care Specialist, Westmead Hospital, NSW.
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