An  estimated  166,400  new  cases  of  cancer  will  occur  in  Canada  in  2008.  Bone
metastases unfortunately remain a common site of recurrence, with breast and prostate cancer
patients  representing  a  substantial proportion of this population. Metastatic bone disease is
associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Pain is experienced by up to two thirds of
patients. The prognosis for patients with bone metastases is highly influenced by tumor type,
performance status, and the presence of extraosseous disease. The median survival has been
significantly  longer  in  breast  cancer  patients  with  a  first  relapse  in  the  axial  skeleton  (24
months)  versus  patients  with  initial  relapse  in  the  liver  (3  months)  (2).  Survival  after
diagnosis  of  bone  metastases  is  influenced  by the subsequent development of extraosseous
metastatic sites: 1.6 years versus 2.1 years in patients with bone-only disease.