Cancer

• Classic risk factors and clinical features red flags:

  • Night pain
  • Weight loss
  • Past History of cancer
  • Depends on type of cancer
  • Often patient unable to recall type of cancer but can recall treatment
  • Radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy likely to have an aggressive type of cancer
  • Metastatic bone disease (MBD) can occur at any time with 50% occurring within the first 5 years after a primary diagnosis of cancer with some developing
  • Untreated MBD can lead to metastatic spinal cord compression (MSCC) - paralysis and compromise B&B and sexual function
• Red flags symptoms for MSCC on closer inspection:

  • intermittent back pain
  • numbness on the legs
  • intermittent ache that feels heavy and strange