Long after a lung cancer diagnosis, some people suddenly feel a heavy ache in the back, lower back, or pelvis one day. At first they may think they simply overdid it, but if it does not settle even when lying down at night and instead hurts more while at rest, it is worth suspecting. Lung cancer is one of the cancers that readily spreads to bone. It tends to settle in the large, weight-bearing bones such as the spine, ribs, pelvis, and the upper thigh bone. It may sound frightening, but having bone metastasis absolutely does not mean there is nothing to be done. These days, the treatments for controlling pain and protecting bone have become quite refined, and many people carry on with daily life.
Pain that has spread to the bone usually does not end with a single painkiller. So the medical team approaches it from several angles. Medication starts with the commonly used anti-inflammatory painkillers, and if the pain runs deep, it is stepped up gradually to medical opioid painkillers. Many people are frightened in advance by the word "opioid," but what is used for cancer pain is different in nature from addiction, and the dose is finely adjusted by the doctor. Enduring it until the pain eats away at daily life is actually the greater loss. Neuropathic pain medication or steroids may be added as well, and if one spot hurts in a pinpoint way, radiation therapy aimed only at that area can sharply reduce the pain within a few days. Radiation is often finished in as few as one session, or at most under ten, so the burden tends to be light.
Just as much as pain, fractures need attention. Bone eaten away by cancer becomes hollow and weak inside, so a slight misstep or lifting something heavy can cause it to snap. In particular, if the spine collapses, height decreases and the back bends, pressing on nerves so that the legs lose strength or sensation dulls. This is close to an emergency sign, so if your legs suddenly tremble or bladder and bowel control becomes abnormal, you must go to the hospital right away. There are also injectable medications that hold the bone firmly. Receiving one about once a month slows the rate at which bone dissolves and lowers fracture risk. However, while using this injection, careless dental treatment, especially tooth extraction, can cause problems in the jawbone, so if you need to visit the dentist, it is best to consult your doctor in advance.
Life at home is also part of the treatment. Laying a non-slip mat in the bathroom, clearing away things that could trip your feet on the way to the toilet at night, and using a cane or walker if needed can sharply reduce the chances of falling. It is safer to avoid suddenly hoisting heavy loads or twisting at the waist to pick something up. That said, lying down all day causes muscle to waste and bone to weaken further, so within the limits that pain allows, walking and moving slowly is actually helpful. Get enough calcium and vitamin D, and since cigarettes are poison for bone health too, this is a good occasion to quit. Because each person bone condition differs, it eases the mind to ask your rehabilitation doctor or your own physician about the limits suited to your body, such as which exercises you may do and how far.
Bone metastasis is certainly heavy news, but when pain management and treatments to protect the bone are added, quality of life can be raised considerably. Rather than enduring the pain alone, the patient who honestly says where and how it hurts ends up living more comfortably in the end. Jotting down a pain score and showing it at your appointment is also a surprisingly big help. This article is a general explanation meant to aid understanding, so please be sure to decide actual treatment and medication in consultation with your doctor.