Fast Five Quiz: Metastatic Breast Cancer Signs and Symptoms

Elwyn C. Cabebe, MD; Winston W. Tan, MD, FACP; Stefania Morganti, MD

December 21, 2022

Differentiating between pain associated with breast cancer bone metastasis and pain attributable to other causes can be difficult. However, pain is the most frequent symptom reported by patients with bone metastasis from breast cancer. Other symptoms of bone metastasis may include:

Numbness or weakness
Fractures
Pain in the neck and/or back
Difficulty passing urine
Constipation
Fatigue
Nausea
Loss of appetite/dehydration
Hypercalcemia caused by tumor-induced osteolysis

Imaging plays an essential role in the detection, diagnosis, prognostication, treatment planning, and follow-up monitoring of bone metastasis. When radiographic or other imaging findings are suggestive of bone metastasis, further imaging or imaging-guided techniques (eg, bone biopsy) may be required to confirm the diagnosis or to determine the extent of the disease.

Learn more about imaging in bone metastasis.

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Any views expressed above are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect the views of WebMD or Medscape.

Cite this: Elwyn C. Cabebe, Winston W. Tan, Stefania Morganti. Fast Five Quiz: Metastatic Breast Cancer Signs and Symptoms - Medscape - Dec 21, 2022.

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