Bone Cancer

Overview

Bone cancer is a malignant tumor of the bone that destroys the normal bone cells, which is responsible for making bone. In the United States, there are more than 2,000 people who are being diagnosed with a bone cancer every year. The prevalence of bone tumor is widespread among adolescents and children and much less common in older adults. Cancer among the older adults is generally due to the result of a metastatic spread from cancer in other parts of the body.

Types

Bone cancer is classified into several types based on the origin. The most common type of bone cancer includes Chordoma, Ewing's Sarcoma, Fibrosarcoma, Malignant Fibrous Histiocytoma and Osteosarcoma. Among the several types, the widespread primary, malignant type of bone cancer is Osteosarcoma. This type of cancer is commonly found among males who are aged between 10 and 25 years old, but less prone to older adults. Osteosarcoma often occurs in the long bones of the arms and legs at a place of quick growth around the knees and also in shoulders of children. In addition to malignant bone cancers, there are also some types of bone tumors that are benign and these types of cancer are not cancerous. The benign bone cancers are enchondroma, osteoid osteoma, giant cell tumors and chondromyxoid fybroma.

Symptoms

Pain is the most common symptom that is associated with bone cancer. In most circumstances, the symptoms associated with bone cancer will become more severe over a period of time. In the beginning, the symptoms may be felt either at night or when you carry on some activity. Based on the growth of the tumor, the affected area may show symptoms for weeks, months or even years before the person looking for medical advice. Sometimes you will feel a mass or lump of growth either on the bone or the tissues surrounding it, but this is not common among all types of bone cancer. Another common symptom associated with bone cancer is weakening of the bone that leads to bone fracture after little or no trauma, which indicates that the bone is dying as a result of the cancer. You may also find following symptoms which are joint swelling and tenderness, fatigue, fever, sudden weight loss and anemia.

Causes/Risk Factors

Primary and secondary bone cancers are different from each another in terms of causes. In secondary bone cancer, the cancer begins in somewhere else in the body and eventually spreads or metastasizes into the bones. For example, a person with stomach cancer may eventually develop bone cancer as well. Primary bone cancer does not necessarily begin in the marrow, but rather in the actual bone. Nobody is sure yet what causes most instances of primary bone cancers, although it is believed that a hereditary element may be the cause.

Tests/Diagnosis

Diagnosis of bone cancer begins by taking a complete medical history and undergoing a basic physical examination. Some types of cancers are more common in people with family history of cancer. The next step is to go through imaging studies, including x-rays, MRI, CT or CAT scan and so on. Bone scans are used to determine whether your bones are rapidly growing or remodeling as a result of cancer. Once a tumor has been identified, it is important to take things a step further by determining what type of tumor it is, so that you can be treated properly.

Treatment

There are a number of different options for treating bone cancer and the best treatment will depend on the type of cancer, the location of the tumor and how aggressive the tumor is. Some of the most common types of treatment used for bone cancer include chemotherapy, surgery and radiation therapy and they can be implemented individually or in combination with one another.