Certified Hospice and Palliative Assistant (CHPNA) Practice Test

Which cancer is least likely to metastasize to the bone?

1. Colorectal cancer

2. Prostate cancer

3. Breast cancer

4. Lung cancer

The correct answer is: Colorectal cancer

Colorectal cancer is least likely to metastasize to the bone compared to the other cancers listed. While all types of cancer have the potential to metastasize, certain cancers have a higher propensity for bone metastasis. Prostate cancer is well-known for frequently spreading to the bones, particularly the spine, pelvis, and ribs. Breast cancer also has a significant tendency to metastasize to bones, especially in advanced stages, affecting the vertebrae, pelvis, and long bones. Lung cancer, while it can spread to various organs, is also known to metastasize to the bones. In contrast, colorectal cancer primarily tends to metastasize to the liver and lungs rather than bone. The patterns of metastasis are influenced by the biology of the cancer types and their preferred pathways for spreading, with colorectal cancer having less incidence of bone involvement compared to the others mentioned. Thus, identifying colorectal cancer as the cancer least likely to spread to bone is accurate based on its typical metastatic behaviors.