Radiotherapy for secondary bone cancer
You may have radiotherapy as part of your treatment for secondary bone cancer. This uses high-energy rays to destroy cancer cells in the bone.
About radiotherapy for secondary bone cancer
Radiotherapy is often used to treat secondary bone cancer. It can help relieve symptoms such as pain.
Radiotherapy uses high-energy rays to treat cancer. It destroys cancer cells in the area where the radiotherapy is given.
Normal cells in the area can also be damaged by radiotherapy, but they can usually recover.
There are different ways of having radiotherapy. You may have external beam radiotherapy or radioisotope therapy.
Related pages
External beam radiotherapy
External beam radiotherapy is given from a radiotherapy machine. You may have radiotherapy for secondary bone cancer as:
- a single treatment session
- a number of daily treatment sessions.
You usually have radiotherapy to the area of bone affected by the cancer. It may take 7 to 10 days for bone pain to start improving. It may take up to 6 weeks before you feel the full benefit of your treatment. Sometimes bone pain gets slightly worse before getting better.
It is important to continue taking any painkillers your healthcare professional prescribes. You can talk to your doctor or nurse about reducing your painkillers as your pain improves.
External radiotherapy does not make you radioactive. It is perfectly safe to be with other people after treatment, including children.
Side effects of external radiotherapy
This type of radiotherapy usually causes very few side effects. Side effects will depend on where the treatment is given.
Treatment to bones such as the ribs or the spine may make you feel sick for a couple of days afterwards. Some people may feel more tired or have some skin redness in the area where they have their treatment. Radiotherapy to your pelvis may also cause diarrhoea.
Your doctor, nurse or radiographer will discuss any possible side effects with you before your treatment starts. They will make sure you have any medication you need to manage side effects.
We have more general information about radiotherapy.
Stereotactic ablative radiotherapy
Stereotactic ablative radiotherapy uses small beams of radiation to target the tumour. It is occasionally used to treat secondary bone cancer in the spine if only 1 or 2 areas are affected.
If your doctor thinks it is a suitable treatment for you they will give you more information about it.
Radioisotope therapy
Radioisotopes are radioactive substances. They may be given as a drink, capsules or an injection into a vein. Cancer cells absorb radioisotopes more than normal cells and get a higher dose of radiation.
All the bones affected by cancer will be treated. It can be a helpful treatment if several of your bones are affected.
There are different types of radioisotopes. The type you have will depend on the type of primary cancer you have:
- Radium-223 can be used to treat secondary cancer in the bone from prostate cancer that is no longer responding to hormonal therapy.
- Strontium-89 can be used to treat secondaries in the bone from prostate cancer and breast cancer.
- Iodine-131 can be used to treat secondaries in the bone from thyroid cancer.
Your cancer doctor will discuss your treatment with you and answer any questions you might have.
Side effects of radioisotope treatment
Radioisotopes such as radium-223 or strontium-89 can temporarily reduce the number of normal red and white blood cells produced by the bone marrow.
Your doctor will arrange blood tests before your treatment to check the level of your blood cells. If the number of your red blood cells is low (anaemia), you may feel tired and breathless. If they are very low, your doctors may give you a blood transfusion.
When the number of white blood cells is low you are more likely to get an infection. If you do, your doctors will prescribe antibiotics.
Some people have swelling around the tumour area in the days following treatment. This is called tumour flare and can cause a temporary increase i pain and tenderness. You may need to take painkillers for a few days.
About our information
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References
Below is a sample of the sources used in our secondary bone cancer information. If you would like more information about the sources we use, please contact us at cancerinformationteam@macmillan.org.uk
Jimenez-Andrade, J. M. et al, 2010. Bone cancer pain. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences. Vol. 1198, pp.173-81.
Heindel, W. et al, 2014. The diagnostic imaging of bone metastases. Deutsches Ärzteblatt International. Vol.111,(44), pp.741-7.
NHS Scotland, 2019. Scottish Palliative Care Guidelines: Malignant Spinal Cord Compression. Available from: https://www.palliativecareguidelines.scot.nhs.uk/guidelines/palliative-emergencies/malignant-spinal-cord-compression.aspx (accessed May 2022)
National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE). Percutaneous cementoplasty for palliative treatment of bony malignancies. Updated 28 June 2006. Available from: https://www.nice.org.uk/Guidance/IPG179 (accessed May 2022).
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Reviewers
This information has been written, revised and edited by Macmillan Cancer Support’s Cancer Information Development team. It has been reviewed by expert medical and health professionals and people living with cancer. It has been approved by Chief Medical Editor, Professor Tim Iveson, Consultant Medical Oncologist.
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Date reviewed
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