Introduction
Metastatic Bone Disease (MBD) is a secondary cancer that has spread or metastasised to the bone from a cancerous organ. Primary cancers that most commonly metastasise to bone include cancers of the lungs, breasts, thyroid, kidneys, prostate. The skeletal areas commonly affected by MBD include upper arm bones, long bones of the leg, pelvis, ribs, spine, and skull.
Keeping physically active can bring many benefits to cancer patients of all stages and is widely recommended. See
General Principles
- Treat people as individuals – Take into account both the medical and social situation of the person. Keeping the patient’s goals, desires, expectations, anxieties as a central part of care delivery. The views and anxieties of families and care givers should also be considered but the person’s own views comes first.
- Emphasise the importance of staying active – Understand the risks of sedentary lifestyle. Encourage people to get involve in valued occupations which require some extent of physical exertion. Challenge one another to [1].
- Awareness of ‘red flag’ symptoms –
- Bone pain in the vertebral column that worsens night: indicates high risk of spinal MBD and imminent fracture.
- Bone pain on weight bearing (especially in the proximal femur): indicates high risk of MBD in the long bones and imminent fracture.
- Worsening and intractable bone pain at any time.
- Awareness of symptoms that could indicate Metastatic Spinal Cord Compression (MSCC) –
- Back or neck pain
- Pain with a rapid crescendo and radiating in a band-like fashion around the chest or abdomen
- Numbness or tingling sensation in toes, fingers or buttocks
- Unsteadiness on feet
- Progressive weakness in legs
- Bladder or bowel problems
People at risk of MBD
Individuals that are at risk of MBD should be assessed with a plain X-ray followed by radiological review and if indicated, an orthopaedic opinion. A baseline assessment on general pain, fatigue, fear/anxiety, co-morbidities, adequate nutrition, motivational state, understanding the likely benefits of physical activity, should be done before and since the diagnosis. This can help individuals to set realistic and appropriate activity goals. If there is no red flag symptoms, healthcare professionals should recommend global health guidelines of 150 minutes of moderate aerobic activity (or 75 minutes of vigorous exercise) per week plus strength exercises on two or more days per week[2].
People with asymptomatic MBD
A recent plain film X-ray could be reviewed for MBD lesions to determine the level of fracture risk in people with asymptomatic MBD. This can then be used to determine a baseline [3], which will then indicate best practice for clinical treatment. If the Mirels’ score is 7 or under, people with MBD can be considered to be at low risk of fracture and should be encouraged to be as active as possible within pain-free limits. If it is 8 or above, the individual should be referred for an orthopaedic opinion.
People with symptomatic MBD
In people with symptomatic MBD and new onset of bone pain, or bone pain that has changed in nature or intensity, risk of fracture should be considered until proven otherwise. Functional pain which is pain on weight bearing should be of particular concern. Imaging, radiological review and an orthopaedic opinion should be sought in the first instance. However, this does not mean people with symptomatic MBD should remain sedentary. In fact, lack of activity can lead to muscle atrophy and also increase the likelihood of skeletal complications such as fractures and bone pain. A general advice would be to avoid stress on the affected limb. Recommended exercise programmes should include resistance exercises targeting the unaffected limbs. People with MBD should be advised to restrict any movement that causes pain, and seek medical advice if pain does not resolve quickly or if there are increased episodes of breakthrough pain. They should also be advised against exercises that induce high torsion, such as yoga-style twists, using the rowing machine, and swinging in golf and tennis. Walking aids can be used to take the weight off affected lower limbs.
If people with MBD do undergo surgical fixation, prophylactic or otherwise, they should be encouraged to keep mobile as much as possible after the procedure in consultation with their orthopaedic surgeon. Orthopaedic fixation should enable immediate weight bearing. Any adaptive equipment necessary for mobilization should be provided and the importance of reducing sedentary time should be emphasised.
Conclusion
The evidence of physical activity improving multiple outcomes in people living with cancer, including those with MBD, is considerable and growing. People with MBD/ at risk of MBD should be encouraged to be as active as realistically possible while being aware of worrying symptoms and signs that should lead them to seek medical attention.
Resources
References
- ↑ Mustian KM, Sprod LK, Janelsins M, Peppone LJ, Mohile S. Exercise recommendations for cancer-related fatigue, cognitive impairment, sleep problems, depression, pain, anxiety, and physical dysfunction: a review. Oncology & hematology review. 2012;8(2):81.
- ↑ World Health Organization, 2016. Global recommendations on physical activity for health. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2010.
- ↑ Jawad MU, Scully SP. In brief: classifications in brief: Mirels’ classification: metastatic disease in long bones and impending pathologic fracture.
