Treating weakened bones resulting from secondary bone cancer

Secondary cancer in the bone can sometimes, but not always, weaken the bone.

If an x-ray shows that a secondary cancer has weakened a weight-bearing bone such as a leg bone, so that there is a risk of it breaking, you may need an operation to prevent this from happening.

The operation is carried out under a general anaesthetic. A metal pin or a locking nail (a nail with screws at each end) is put down the middle of the weakened bone. This secures and strengthens the bone, holding it firm so that it will not break. The pin or nail can stay in permanently, to continually protect the bone. Whether this operation is appropriate for you will depend on which bone is affected by your secondary cancer. This operation is mainly used for the long bones in the legs. It is occasionally possible to do this for other bones in the body.

Sometimes the weakness caused by the secondary bone cancer leads to a crack or a fracture in the bone. If this happens before the operation, it may still be possible to mend the bone by using the operation described above.

You may have radiotherapy before and/or after your operation to try to destroy any cancer cells left in the area and help the bone to repair itself.

You will need to stay in hospital for up to a couple of weeks after the operation to recover fully, but most people are able to start walking about a couple of days after surgery. A physiotherapist may give you leg exercises to do, to help you move your leg more easily.