When prostate cancer metastasises to the bones— a stage referred to as bone metastasis— it indicates that the cancer has disseminated beyond the primary site of the prostate gland and has infiltrated the bone tissue. This form of metastasis is common, and it will likely shift both the symptoms you have and the way your therapy is structured, as advanced prostate cancer often spreads to the bones.
Prostate cancer is capable of shedding metastasis, and with it, has the potential to spread via the circulatory or the lymphatic vessels. Bones—particularly the vertebrae, hips, pelvis, as well as ribs—are abundant with blood vessels and bone marrow, increasing the likelihood that these transient cells will lodge there.
Once prostate cancer metastasises to the bones, the symptoms one would expect to experience vary as per the degree of metastasis and the region affected. A few of the symptoms are:
Bone Ache: A deep, steady ache is often experienced in the hips, ribs, and back. This pain begins as an ache and steadily transforms into an unshakable pain with time.
Spinal cord compression:Â If the spine is one of the bones metastasized to, there is a chance it could also compress the spinal cord, which may result in numbness, weakness, or difficulty in the case of walking.
Hypercalcemia:Â The breakdown of bones may lead to the release of calcium into the bloodstream, resulting in fatigue, confusion, constipation, or excessive thirst, among other symptoms.
Treatment:Â Managing symptoms, masking the pain, and protecting the bones, which is the primary focus, can help in the case of metastasised bones, even when there is no definite cure.
Post-surgery care - Managing pain with meds and supportive care also helps with the comfort of the patients.
With proper scans as well as blood tests, there is a chance to get one ahead of the problems down the line and with early detection, the pain can be managed and the mobility can be preserved.