Bone metastasis

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Causes

By Mayo Clinic staff

Living With Cancer

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Bone metastasis occurs when cancer cells break away from the original tumor and spread to the bones, where they begin to multiply. It's believed that cancer cells arrive in the bones by traveling through the blood vessels.

Doctors aren't sure what causes some cancers to spread. And it's not clear why some cancers travel to the bones rather than to other common sites for metastasis, such as the liver.

Risk factors Symptoms

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References
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DS01206 April 27, 2012

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