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Metastatic Bone Disease

Recorded on 4/15/2007

PROGRAM DETAILS:

Although some patients face an initial diagnosis of bone cancer, a considerably larger number of patients face the reality of cancer moving to their bones after being treated for a different type of cancer. Just about any cancer can move to the bones, but there are some that have a particular predilection for bones. On this Patient Power program, host Andrew Schorr is joined by Dr. Jason Weisstein, assistant of Orthopedics and Sports Medicine at the University of Washington Medical Center, a part of UW Medicine, to discuss what happens when cancer moves to a patient’s bones and the different treatment options.

Also joining the program is Barbara, a grandmother from Yakima, WA, who was diagnosed with multiple myeloma. Barbara share her journey from diagnosis through treatment. Dr. Weisstein describes the symptoms bone cancer patients often present with. Find out which bones are usually affected and how the cancer spreads through the body. Learn why it is important to work with a multidisciplinary team, including a medical oncologist, radiation oncologist, surgeon and pain management team. Bone cancer is often very painful, and the pain management team is critical in maintaining a high quality of life for patients.

Dr. Weisstein says when surgery is required, it is often aimed at restoring function as quickly as possible. Bones that have been radiated before or after surgery probably won’t heal completely but surgery can help. Listen as he describes the decisions doctors face when looking at bones that are fractured versus brittle and what this means for treatment. Dr. Weisstein discusses hypercalcemia and when this occurs in patients with bone cancer. Dr. Weisstein also touches on the tremendous progress that has been made in doctor’s ability to save limbs in patients with sarcoma.

Dr. Weisstein implores cancer survivors to be vigilant in monitoring any bone pain they may be experiencing. He says, “My philosophy is that any patient who has a pre-existing diagnosis of cancer with new pain should be taken very seriously and that can be worked up with something as simple as an x-ray, and that doesn’t need to be done at a major academic medical center. That can be done in the community. Actually handling the problem after it’s been diagnosed is another question, and that probably is best handled in a multidisciplinary setting.” To hear how doctors are working to give patient’s the highest quality of life after treatment, listen to this Patient Power program.

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EXPERTS & GUESTS:
Jason Weisstein, M.D., M.P.H.
Assistant Professor of Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine, Children's Hospital and Regional Medical Center, UW Medicine
Dr. Jason Weisstein is Assistant Professor of Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine at the University of Washington School of Medicine and is a member of the Tumor Service of UW Medicine Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine. Dr. Weisstein graduated valedictorian from the Mt. Sinai School of Medicine in New York and completed his residency at the University of California San Francisco, followed... more >

TRANSCRIPT:

  1. Introduction
  2. Barbara’s Story
  3. Surgical Treatment Options
  4. How Cancer Spreads
  5. When to See a Specialist
  6. Medication Treatment

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