Advanced prostate cancer often metastasizes to the bones. The survival rate for metastatic prostate cancer when the cancer spreads to the bone is very low. However, the prognosis is still slightly better compared to liver metastases.
When someone is diagnosed with prostate cancer too late, there is a 60 percent chance that the cancer will spread to the bone. When the cancer has metastasized to the bone, treatment becomes more complex. As a result, the metastatic survival rate for bone metastases may be less than 40%. Most patients with bone metastases can only survive about 19 to 21 months after diagnosis.
Since prostate cancer is a slow-growing cancer, many patients don’t really notice symptoms. In fact, more than 50% of patients are diagnosed with prostate cancer when it has spread to the bones. In this case, to improve the survival rate of metastatic prostate cancer and also to ensure effective treatment, the GP must be able to recognize whether the cancer originates in the bone or is a metastasis of cancer from elsewhere.
The symptoms of involve pain when urinating, blood in the urine and also interruption of urine flow. However, if the cancer has spread to the bone, patients will experience additional symptoms that are unrelated to the initial symptoms. In the case of prostate cancer with bone metastases, symptoms include pain in the affected area, weaker bones, sudden fractures, and also paralysis. The ribs, spine and hips are usually the places affected by cancer. However, it is not impossible that the cancer will also appear in the other bones.
Diagnosis and treatment
Bone metastases can be quite difficult to diagnose because the symptoms are similar to those of arthritis. However, when a prostate cancer patient feels some symptoms in the bone area, it is best to get him checked out right away because there is a high probability that the pain is a sign of bone metastasis.
Bone scintigraphy is one of the most effective methods for diagnosing bone metastases. This method uses a radioactive tracer that is injected intravenously into the patient’s vein. If the symptoms are caused by cancer, the area will appear dark on the camera.
When the cancer has spread to the bones, the treatment plan must be adjusted. Hormone therapy may not be the best option because it is known to weaken bones. In addition to radiation therapy, bisphosphonates are often used as additional treatment to strengthen bones.
