What Are the Signs That Lung Cancer Has Spread to Bones?

There are two types of categories for lung cancer. Non-small cell lung cancer is where the cancer grows slowly. Small cell lung cancer spreads quickly. In addition to spreading to other organs in the body, lung cancer can spread to bones. Once the cancer spreads to the bones, it can cause painful and debilitating symptoms.

Bone Pain

The most common symptom of lung cancer spreading to the bones, is a severity of pain, usually around the back and ribcage area.

Sensations

A person may experience numbness in limbs, particularly in the arms.

Metastatic Disease

When the bones around the the spinal cord become cancerous due to the spreading of lung cancer, metastatic disease can occur. Spinal metastasis occurs in 5 percent of all cancer patients.

Lambert-Eaton Syndrome

In severe cases where lung cancer has metastisized, the hip muscles become weak. It becomes difficult to stand from a sitting position.

Getting Treatment

If you begin to experience a high fever, chills, night sweats, or rapid weight loss, seek medical attention to receive a diagnosis. These types of symptoms are common once the cancer has spread from the lungs.

Testing

Most doctors will conduct an x-ray, bone scan, imaging tests, or CT scans of your body to see if the lung cancer has spread to the bones.

Resources

• Small Cell Lung Cancer
• Bone Cancer Symptoms
• Metastatic Disease