ABSTRACT
Bone is the most common site of metastasis for breast cancer; 60-80% of patients will have bony lesions. One study found that approximately one-third of patients with metastatic breast cancer developed structurally signifi cant bone destruction ( 1 ) and that only half of these patients were referred to an orthopaedic surgeon. Possible reasons for failure to refer include patient frailty, poor life expectancy, and the effectiveness of medical management ( 2 ); however, lack of awareness of the potential benefi ts of orthopaedic surgery may also play a part.
