If a metastatic tumor causes bleeding into the lungs, a patient may begin coughing up blood. Radiation therapy directed precisely at the tumor may alleviate the problem. If that cannot be done, it may be possible to stop the bleeding by injecting a special material into the blood vessel feeding the bleeding tumor. This requires a specialized radiologic technique but occasionally is very effective.
Bone Metastases
Bone metastases may be discovered on a routine x-ray or bone scan or may be found because of pain, swelling or a fracture of the weakened bone.
Standard Treatment Bone metastases that don't produce symptoms and involve bones that are not weight-bearing (weight-bearing bones include the hip, upper leg and shoulder) may be treated with the chemotherapy appropriate for the primary tumor .
Bone metastases that cause symptoms can also be treated with systemic therapy, although to take this approach depends on the type of cancer and the likelihood of getting much benefit from the treatment. If the tumor is not likely to respond to chemotherapy or if the bone involved is a weight-bearing one, the best option is to give radiation focused only on the involved area. The symptomatic relief is usually rapid and complete. Each bone can tolerate only a limited amount of radiation, although radiation can often be used to treat many different sites of tumor involvement.
