How long can you live if prostate cancer metastasizes to the bone

Lung cancer bone metastasis is a common symptom of advanced lung cancer, cancer cells can travel from the original tumor (primary tumor) along the bloodstream or lymphatic system to the rest of the body. In many cases, cancer cells are destroyed by the lymphatic system before they cause damage to the body, but some cancer cells not only survive, but also spread to other parts of the body or tissues to continue to grow, forming new tumors (i.e., secondary tumors), a process called cancer metastasis.

If the cancer cells metastasize into the bone and become a new tumor, it is a cancer bone metastasis. Cancer cells that metastasize to bone are not bone cancer cells, but are made up of cancer cells from the primary tumour (e.g. breast, lung or prostate cancer). Lung cancer bone metastases affect which bone in the spine is the most common place to metastasize from cancer, however, other locations such as the pelvis, hip bone, thigh bone and skull can also have cancer bone metastases.

How long can you live if prostate cancer metastasizes to the bone

To understand the impact of cancer bone metastasis on bone, it is important to understand the structure and function of normal bone. The outermost layer of normal bone is the cortex, which is very hard and supports the entire skeleton of the human body, with a soft spongy tissue called bone marrow in the middle of the bone.

Bone marrow is a living tissue responsible for the production and storage of red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets. Red blood cells carry blood from the lungs to the body; White blood cells fight infection; Platelets can clot blood and control bleeding. Normal bones also store and release a variety of important minerals such as calcium, magnesium, phosphorus and sodium to maintain the normal functioning of the body.

The main goals of comprehensive treatment for bone metastases are: (1) to improve quality of life, relieve pain, and restore function; (2) Prevent or delay the occurrence of bone-related events, such as pathological fractures, dislocations, etc.; (3) Slow down the progression of tumors and prolong life.