Fragile bones could be early sign of undetected cancer, says specialist

KUALA LUMPUR - Bones that fracture easily without significant injury may not simply be a sign of osteoporosis or ageing, but could indicate an undetected cancer, an orthopaedic oncologist has warned.

Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) Hospital Canselor Tuanku Muhriz (HCTM) specialist Dr Mohamed Hafizudin Abdullah Sani said about 30 per cent of patients seeking treatment for bone fragility were diagnosed with cancer after further examinations.

He said cancers such as breast, lung and prostate cancer could spread to the bones, particularly the spine, hips and pelvis.

"Patients with cancer that has spread to the bones commonly experience persistent pain, especially at night, as well as extreme fatigue and anaemia.

"Some patients come to us with fractures, but further investigations reveal that they have cancer. Fractures caused by cancer also have different characteristics from those resulting from osteoporosis,” he said.

Dr Mohamed Hafizudin said osteoporosis often had no symptoms until a fracture occurred, leaving many people unaware that they had the condition.

He advised the public, particularly those aged 40 and above, to undergo regular health screenings and seek medical attention for unusual, persistent symptoms.

In a separate interview after the programme, Dr Mohamed Hafizudin said excessive caffeine consumption could interfere with the body's absorption of nutrients and indirectly affect bone health.

He also advised against massaging newly injured bones or ligaments, warning that it could worsen inflammation and increase the risk of internal bleeding.

"Massaging an injured area can cause bleeding, or a haematoma, and make the swelling worse,” he added. - BERNAMA