Nursing Management of Bone Health in Patients with Cancer

Once it has metastasized to the skeletal system, cancer often negatively affects bone health, leading to pain, fractures, hypercalcemia, and nerve compression. This online activity reviews interventions to reduce morbodity and mortality of bone complications in patients with cancer.

STATEMENT OF NEED
Advanced-stage cancers, including lung, breast, prostate, and multiple myeloma, can have a detrimental effect on bone health (Coleman, Croucher et al, 2020). Once cancer spreads to the skeletal system, the risk for pain, fractures, hypercalcemia, and spinal cord compression increases considerably (Coleman, Hadji et al, 2020). The management of bone metastases requires a multidisciplinary approach with prompt detection and treatment, as delayed treatment is associated with detrimental effects on patients’ overall survival and quality of life (Migliorini et al, 2020; Southcott et al, 2020). As nurses are often the first to assess patients presenting with bone metastases, the role of the oncology nursing team is crucial to their management. This activity will update oncology nurses on the pathophysiology of bone metastases, patient- and treatment-related factors that put patients at risk, and strategies for managing bone complications to optimize outcomes for patients with cancer.

TARGET AUDIENCE

Oncology nurses, nurse practitioners, clinical nurse specialists, and other health care professionals involved in the treatment of patients with cancer.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

Upon completion of this activity, participants should be able to:

Evaluate the pathophysiology of bone health complications in patients with cancer
Distinguish patient- and cancer therapy–related risk factors for bone complication
Appraise strategies to manage bone complications in patients with cancer