One of the worst complications of any form of cancer is metastasis. Metastasis is the term used when cancer has spread to other parts of the body, typically involving another organ or organ system. Metastasis can cause a variety of symptoms depending on the new type of cancer that develops in the body, but a symptom common in all kinds of cancer is pain. When cancer is in unable to be managed through surgery or radio/chemotherapy, the only kind of management done is pain management.
Metastasis and bone cancer
Metastasis happens when cancer cells from the affected area break off, enter the circulation, and travel to other parts of the body. They affect new cells and tissue where new cancerous growths can occur. The bone is quite common place for cancer cells to settle during metastasis, particularly for breast, prostate, lung, thyroid, and kidney cancers.
Metastases can happen to other parts of the body, but most commonly in the bones found in the center of the body, specifically the spine. Other common sites for the development of cancer are the pelvis, femur, humerus, ribs, and the skill.
Metastases can happen to other parts of the body, but most commonly in the bones found in the center of the body, specifically the spine. Other common sites for the development of cancer are the pelvis, femur, humerus, ribs, and the skill.
Dangers of bone cancer
Bone cancer is quite dangerous because normally, new bone cells are being developed to replace old cells. This keeps bones healthy and strong. When cancer affects the bone, new bone can stop developing. This can cause the bones to weaken and be prone to fractures. Lesions can also form on the bone tissue, causing them to weaken as well.
Another effect is for the cancer to get the bones to release new bone cells without the old cells being broken down first, this causes sclerosis or hardening of the bones. Because of the abnormal structure of these bones, they are actually more prone to fractures than normal bone.
Another effect is for the cancer to get the bones to release new bone cells without the old cells being broken down first, this causes sclerosis or hardening of the bones. Because of the abnormal structure of these bones, they are actually more prone to fractures than normal bone.
The management of bone pain
Pain is the most common, and earliest, symptom of bone cancer. The pain is usually worse at night and may be relieved by movement. As the cancer progresses, the pain becomes constant and can worsen with increased physical activity. Bone metastases are typically treated with both chemotherapy and radiotherapy but this kind of management can be unsuitable for other patients.
Focused-ultrasound (FUS) is a non-invasive technique used to send acoustic energy to heat lesions to ablative temperatures higher than 65 degrees Celsius. Historically speaking, FUS has been used to treat uterine fibroids in women, posing no threat to the safety of healthy tissue with good patient outcomes. Click here for more information on the different therapeutic uses of sonography.
Focused-ultrasound (FUS) is a non-invasive technique used to send acoustic energy to heat lesions to ablative temperatures higher than 65 degrees Celsius. Historically speaking, FUS has been used to treat uterine fibroids in women, posing no threat to the safety of healthy tissue with good patient outcomes. Click here for more information on the different therapeutic uses of sonography.
Blinded study on FUS
A clinical study in 2014 was done in several countries all over the world on patients who underwent radiotherapy that unsuccessfully managed their pain as well as those who were not candidates or were declined radiotherapy. This was a true experimental study, with a control group consisting of 35 patients and an experimental group of 112 patients. Lisa has written several articles on different studies on sonography.
The results of the study were very promising, with the end point of therapy reporting decreased levels of pain without increasing their intake of pain medication. For a significant decrease in pain levels, the responder had to report a decrease in pain by at least 2 levels, whose daily dose of morphine or equivalent medication did not increase more than 25 percent. Over 64 percent of patients reported improved pain management with FUS, opening up more treatment modalities for the management of pain in cancer patients.
The results of the study were very promising, with the end point of therapy reporting decreased levels of pain without increasing their intake of pain medication. For a significant decrease in pain levels, the responder had to report a decrease in pain by at least 2 levels, whose daily dose of morphine or equivalent medication did not increase more than 25 percent. Over 64 percent of patients reported improved pain management with FUS, opening up more treatment modalities for the management of pain in cancer patients.