Bone Metastasis from Prostate Cancer: Symptoms & What to Watch For

For men, prostate cancer is the second most fatal form of cancer. In advanced stages, cancer cells can metastasize, breaking away from the main tumor and starting tumorous growths in other parts of the body, typically the lymph nodes or the skeletal system. In some cases, signs of bone metastasis may be detected before the primary prostate cancer has been identified.

Pain

• Once prostate cancer spreads to your bones, you may feel pain at the tumor site, typically the lower back, hips or thighs. This is far and away the most common sign that you have a bone metastasis, though the cancer often metastasizes with no pain or symptoms at all.

Weakness

• Bone metastasis from prostate cancer not only causes pain in your bones, it actually weakens the bones. Bones that have developed metastatic tumors will fracture more easily than healthy bones.

Bone Scans

• Bone scans may be able to detect metastasized prostate cancer in the affected areas of your body, though they are not always successful. X-rays and CT scans of the painful areas may also be able to spot the tumors.