WHEN BREAST CANCER SPREADS TO BONE

WHY DOES BREAST CANCER SPREAD TO BONE?

Scientists think there may be a few reasons why breast cancer most commonly spreads 
to the bone:

• Bone is an area of high blood flow. This may make it more likely that cancer cells traveling in the bloodstream will reach and settle in bone, compared to other places in the body.³
• Cancer cells can "stick" to bone. Cancer cells may make a substance that helps them stay in the bone.^3,4
• Cancer cells can grow in bone. Once in bone, cancer cells may release chemicals that help them grow into a tumor.^3,4

WHEN BREAST CANCER SPREADS TO BONE, WHY IS IT STILL CALLED BREAST CANCER?

When cancer spreads to a new place in the body, it has the same type of cancer cells as the original tumor–and therefore the same name.⁵ For example, breast cancer that spreads to the bone is still breast cancer, not bone cancer. This is important because cancer treatment plans are based on where the cancer started.¹

WHAT CAN HAPPEN IF YOU HAVE BONE METS FROM BREAST CANCER?

As tumors grow, they can weaken and destroy the bone. Bone mets can lead to serious bone problems. Serious bone problems are defined as¹:

• Broken bones (fractures)
• A need for surgery to prevent or repair broken bones
• A need for radiation treatments to bone
• Pressure on the spinal cord (spinal cord compression)