Radiotherapy in palliative treatment of painful bone metastases

Abstract

Background. Pain caused by bone metastases is the most common symptom requiring the treatment in cancer patients. Bone metastases often present as the first evidence of disseminated disease, the most common primary sites being breast, prostate, and lung. Important in palliative treatment is to reach a maximal effect with the minimal treatment. The aim of palliation for cancer patients is to increase the quality of their remaining life.Conclusions. The management of bone pain includes analgesics, local treatment (radiation, surgery) and systemic treatment (hormones, chemotherapy, radioisotopes and agents such as bisphosphonates). The treatment of bone cancer pain often requires a multidisciplinary approach. Radiotherapy remains the most important palliative treatment for localized bone pain. The treatment duration can generally be reduced to a single treatment with excellent and long-lasting palliative analgesic responses. The treatment should be individualized according to the patient's clinical condition and life expectancy.