Final answer:
A fracture in a patient with bone cancer is known as a pathological fracture, which occurs when weakened bones break under stress that would not affect healthy bones.
Step-by-step explanation:
The type of fracture that occurs in a patient with bone cancer is known as a pathological fracture. This type of fracture happens when a bone that has been weakened by disease, such as bone cancer, breaks under normal stress or a minor injury that would not cause a fracture in a healthy bone. The typical healthy bone remodeling process, which allows bones to become thicker and stronger when subjected to stress, is disrupted in pathological conditions, making the bones more susceptible to fractures.
Pathological fractures can occur without an obvious injury and may be the first sign of an underlying disease. Therefore, recognizing a pathological fracture is critical, as it necessitates not only the treatment of the fracture itself but also the underlying condition that led to the weakening of the bone.