Living well with breast cancer often means taking better care of yourself – both body and mind. You’re forced to learn. To adapt. To take control so you can really live.

You may have found ways to improve your overall physical and mental health, but what about your bone health? Learn what you can do to strengthen and protect your bones – and why you should care. For today, tomorrow, and every moment in between.

When breast cancer metastasizes
the bone is often the first place it spreads
This affects more than
7/10
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patients
Bone metastases (mets) come in
2 forms – both weaken the bone
Osteoblastic
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Osteoblastic
Osteoblastic
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Osteoblastic

Tumour causes too much bone growth

Osteolytic
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Osteolytic
Osteolytic
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Osteolytic

Tumour eats away at the bone

See a healthy bone
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Healthy bone
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Healthy bone

Bone mets
can show up in
a lot of places
  1. Spine
  2. Ribs
  3. Breastbone
  4. Hip bones
  5. Skull
  6. Upper arm bone
  7. Upper leg bone
Did you know…
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Even when it travels, it is still breast cancer

Pain in your bones is often the first symptom, and can be severe.
Symptoms
often go
beyond the bone
  1. Fractures
  2. Nausea
  3. Constipation
  4. Fatigue
  5. Loss of appetite
  6. Extreme thirst
  7. Confusion
  8. Frequent need to pee
Spotlight on spinal cord compression
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Spinal cord compression
Spotlight on
spinal cord compression

Mets in your spine may lead to feeling off balance, back pain, weakness or numbness in your arms or legs, or problems controlling your bladder or bowels.

Wondering what’s causing your symptoms?
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Mets can release calcium from your bones into your blood, which can cause a variety of seemingly unrelated symptoms.

4 ways to give your
bone health a boost
pain-icn
Make PAIN MANAGEMENT a priority
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Take painkillers as prescribed
Apply hot or cold packs
Get a massage
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Diary
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Quick Tip:

There are medications that can help you take care of your bone health and even help prevent fractures and other bone-related incidents.

Talk to your doctor about your options.

yoga-icn
Work to maintain your mobility
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Avoid fractures from falling by:
using a cane or a walker as back-up when you go out
putting a chair or handrail in your shower
decluttering your living space
wearing shoes with no-skid sole
feeling-strong-icn
Focus on feeling strong
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Exercise when you can: try yoga, walking, or lifting light weights
Consider swimming or aqua-fit if your balance is off or you worry about falling
Try a physical or occupationnal therapy program
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Fuel your body
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Limit alcohol consumption
Aim for 1200-1500 mg of calcium and about 800 units of vitamin D daily
Eat well
Talk to your healthcare team about your bone health

Your team can tell you about options for strengthening and supporting your bones, and help you manage any symptoms

Even in the face of bone mets,
you are Far from Fragile.
What to ask your doctor…

If you have cancer, but aren’t sure if you have bone mets

If you have been diagnosed with bone mets

Carry a notebook:
Keep track of pain or other symptoms; jot down questions as you think of them; and keep track of the answers you get from your healthcare team.