Radiation therapy for painful bone metastases - 1246280

Radiation oncologists will radiate painful bones mets when they become painful, period. They don't want to wait until it is severe. Prophylactically would mean before it is painful. There is no reason for a person with advanced lung cancer to have pain if it can be relieved whether mild, moderate, or severe.

I hope you get relief sooner than later,
Janine
forum moderator

I need to add that bone mets can cause bone fractures (causing severe pain) if not treated. Radiation can keep this from happening.

In addition to the excellent information Janine provided, you might want to read Dr. West's introduction to bone mets, which discusses radiation to palliate symptoms they cause: http://cancergrace.org/lung/2007/02/17/bone-metastases-in-lung-cancer-a…

JimC
Forum moderator

The only other thing I'd add is that we will generally be more inclined to recommend radiation if the pain is limited to one or a few locations, rather than many. We tend to favor systemic rather than local therapies if there are very diffuse lesions. And then, as Jim and Janine noted, either pain or fracture risk or both will lead us to favor radiation to a bone lesion.

-Dr. West

Thanks for that clarification Dr. West. It's hugely important and I made assumptions after reading the initial thread.
That's just the kind of example that points to why a doctor who trains and treats and speaks and plans everyday about lung cancer is necessary to a forum that wants to educate seekers on the subject. Grace rocks.