Formation of Bone Mets - 1247148

double trouble
Posts:573

Are bone mets more likely to form in areas where there is already damage, as in the case of degenerative disease, arthritis, previous injury, etc.?

Debra

Forums

catdander
Posts:

I know I've asked that question before. D's first met was in the spine where he had an injury many years proir. But I don't remember what I was told other than it looks like cancer and it quacks likes cancer judging from the MRI. Now I'm hoping it wasn't.

Let's ask.

Janine

Dr West
Posts: 4735

No, to my knowledge there is no increased risk from pre-existing benign musculoskeletal disease. Though there is a good deal of research focusing on this question, we don't really have a great understanding of why metastatic lesions flourish more in one microenvironment than another.

-Dr. West

laya d.
Posts: 714

For what it's worth, my Mom's bone met is in the exact location on her hip bone where she had previously suffered a blunt force trauma (from a slip and fall on stairs). She had lingering pain for months in that spot after the slip and fall (prior to the met). So, when the bone met was detected about a year later, her doctor asked her if she had any pain in that location, and she said she's had a dull ache there since she fell. Her doc said that the blunt force injury and the met being in the exact same spot probably is just a coincindence. But, I've often wondered if there is more to it.

Laya