Physical Activity in Metastatic Bone Disease

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Top Contributors - Candace Goh, Chloe Waller, Vidya Acharya, Kim Jackson and Shaimaa Eldib  

Introduction

Metastatic Bone Disease (MBD) is a secondary cancer that has spread or metastasised to the bone from a cancerous organ. Primary cancers that most commonly metastasise to bone include cancers of the lungs, breasts, thyroid, kidneys, prostate. The skeletal areas commonly affected by MBD include upper arm bones, long bones of the leg, pelvis, ribs, spine, and skull.

Keeping physically active can bring many benefits to cancer patients of all stages and is widely recommended. See Physical activity in cancer for more information. As healthcare professionals, it is important for us to be knowledgeable on the principles, precautions, and contraindications when recommending exercises and advising people with MBD on physical activity. Not only can this improve the quality of care, it may also help to debunk myths on exercise and cancer such as "cancer patients only need rest".

Please watch the video below if you would like to know more on the biology of MBD:

General Principles

• Treat people as individuals - Take into account both the medical and social situation of the person. Keeping the patient's goals, desires, expectations, anxieties as a central part of care delivery. The views and anxieties of families and care givers should also be considered but the person’s own views comes first.
• Emphasise the importance of staying active - Understand the risks of sedentary lifestyle. Encourage people to get involve in valued occupations which require some extent of physical exertion. Challenge one another to #justkeepmoving
• Importance of rest and recovery
• Awareness of 'red flag' symptoms

Resources

• Physical activity in patients with metastatic bone disease: Guidance for healthcare professionals by the Macmillan Cancer Support.