Defination
Bone Cancer is caused by a problem with the cells that make bone. Cancer involving the bone in older adults is most commonly the result of metastatic spread from another tumor. Bone tumors occur most commonly in children and adolescents and are less common in older adults.
Types of Bone Cancer
There are many types of bone cancer. The most common bone tumors include :-
There are two other types of relatively common to develop cancer in the bones :
Symptoms of Bone Cancer
The most common symptom of bone tumors is pain. In most cases, the symptoms become progressively more severe over time. Initially, the pain may not be present at night or in the activity. Depending on the growth of the tumor, those affected may have symptoms for weeks, months or years before seeking medical advice. In some cases, a mass or lump can be felt or on the bone or in the tissues surrounding bone. This is most common with fibrosarcoma or MFH but can occur with other bone tumors. The bones can become weakened by the tumor and lead to a breakdown after little or no trauma, or simply to stand on the affected bone. Fever, chills, night sweats, and weight loss may occur, but are less frequent. These symptoms are more frequent after the spread of the tumor to other tissues.
Diagnosis of Bone Cancer
The first thing the doctor will do is to take a complete medical history. It will give clues to your doctor about your diagnosis. Some types of cancer are more common among people if they have family members who have had this type of cancer. A description of your symptoms can help your doctor determine the possibility of bone cancer from other causes. Next, a complete physical examination can help pinpoint the cause of these symptoms. This may include test your muscle strength, the sense of touch, and reflexes. Some blood tests can be ordered, which can help identify a possible cancers.
Then, your doctor will probably order some imaging studies. Plain radiographs are often ranked first. In some cases, if the cancer is identified early, it may not appear on the plain radiography. The emergence of a tumor on the x-ray is used to determine the type of cancer, and whether it is benign or malignant. Benign tumors are more likely to have a good border while malignant tumors are more likely to have an irregular border. Because benign tumors usually slower and bones of a time trying to surround the normal bone tumors. Malignant tumors are more likely to develop more rapidly, not giving the bone a chance to surround the tumor.
Tomography (CT or CAT scan) is a more advanced test that can give a picture of your cutting bone. This test gives very good about your bones and is better able to identify a possible tumor. It also gives additional information on the size and location of the tumor.
An MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) is another advanced test, which can also provide images cut from the body. An MRI provides greater detail of soft tissue, including muscles, tendons, ligaments, nerves and blood vessels of CT. This test can give better details on whether tumor of the bone was broken bone involved and the surrounding soft tissues.
A bone scan is a test which identifies the areas of rapid growth or bone remodeling. The bone scan is often taken of the entire body. This test may be ordered to see if there are other areas of bone involvement in the organization.
If a tumor is identified, the doctor will use all the information on the history and physical examination as well as laboratory studies and imaging and drew up a list possible causes (differential diagnosis).
Your doctor can then obtain a sample of biopsy of the tumor. This involves taking a small sample of the tumor which can be examined in the laboratory to determine what kind of tumor it is. The biopsy can be obtained either through a small needle (needle biopsy) or through a small incision (incisional biopsy).
Treatment of Cancer
There are various methods available for your doctor to treat bone cancer. The best treatment is based on the type of bone cancer, the location of the cancer, how cancer is aggressive, and whether or not the cancer has invaded surrounding tissues or distant (metastases).
There are three main types of treatment for bone cancer :-
Effects of Treatments
Unfortunately, there are risks and side effects of each treatment of bone cancer.
Bone Cancer is caused by a problem with the cells that make bone. Cancer involving the bone in older adults is most commonly the result of metastatic spread from another tumor. Bone tumors occur most commonly in children and adolescents and are less common in older adults.
Types of Bone Cancer
There are many types of bone cancer. The most common bone tumors include :-
- Osteosarcome :
- Ostesarcome is the most common primary malignant bone cancer. It most commonly affects men between 10 and 25 years, but less frequently can affect the elderly. It often occurs in the long bones in the arms and legs at areas of rapid growth around the knees and the shoulders of children. This type of cancer is often very aggressive with risk of spreading to the lungs.
- Ewing's Sarcoma :
- Ewing's Sarcoma is the most aggressive bone tumors and affects young people between 4-15 years. It is more common in men and is very rare in people over the age of 30. It most commonly occurs in the middle of the long bones in the arms and legs.
- Chondrosarcoma :
- Chondrosarcoma is the second most common bone tumors and account for approximately 25% of all malignant bone tumors. These tumors arise from the cells of cartilage and can be very aggressive or relatively slow. Unlike many other bone tumors, chondrosarcoma is most common in people over 40 years. It is slightly more common among boys and potentially spread to the lungs and lymph nodes. Chondrosracoma most commonly affects the bones of the pelvis and hips.
- Malin Fibrous Histiocytoma (MFH) :
- MFH affects soft tissues, including muscles, ligaments, tendons and fat. It is the most common soft tissue malignancy in later adult life, usually occurring among persons 50-60 years. It affects mostly the extremities and is about twice as frequent among boys than girls. MFH has a wide range of severity.
- Fibrosarcoma :
- Fibrosarcoma is much rarer than other bone tumors. It is most common in persons 35-55 years. It affects mostly the soft tissues of the leg behind the knee. It is slightly more common among boys than girls.
- Chordoma :
- Chordoma is a rare tumor with an average survival of about six years after diagnosis. It occurs in adults over 30 years old and is about twice as frequent among boys than girls. It affects mostly either the upper or lower spine.
There are two other types of relatively common to develop cancer in the bones :
- Lymphoma : A cancer arising from the cells of the immune system, usually begins in the lymph nodes, but it may start to the bone.
- Multiple Myeloma : Starts in the bones, but it is generally not regarded as a bone tumor as it is a tumor of the bone marrow cells, and not bone.
Symptoms of Bone Cancer
The most common symptom of bone tumors is pain. In most cases, the symptoms become progressively more severe over time. Initially, the pain may not be present at night or in the activity. Depending on the growth of the tumor, those affected may have symptoms for weeks, months or years before seeking medical advice. In some cases, a mass or lump can be felt or on the bone or in the tissues surrounding bone. This is most common with fibrosarcoma or MFH but can occur with other bone tumors. The bones can become weakened by the tumor and lead to a breakdown after little or no trauma, or simply to stand on the affected bone. Fever, chills, night sweats, and weight loss may occur, but are less frequent. These symptoms are more frequent after the spread of the tumor to other tissues.
Diagnosis of Bone Cancer
The first thing the doctor will do is to take a complete medical history. It will give clues to your doctor about your diagnosis. Some types of cancer are more common among people if they have family members who have had this type of cancer. A description of your symptoms can help your doctor determine the possibility of bone cancer from other causes. Next, a complete physical examination can help pinpoint the cause of these symptoms. This may include test your muscle strength, the sense of touch, and reflexes. Some blood tests can be ordered, which can help identify a possible cancers.
Then, your doctor will probably order some imaging studies. Plain radiographs are often ranked first. In some cases, if the cancer is identified early, it may not appear on the plain radiography. The emergence of a tumor on the x-ray is used to determine the type of cancer, and whether it is benign or malignant. Benign tumors are more likely to have a good border while malignant tumors are more likely to have an irregular border. Because benign tumors usually slower and bones of a time trying to surround the normal bone tumors. Malignant tumors are more likely to develop more rapidly, not giving the bone a chance to surround the tumor.
Tomography (CT or CAT scan) is a more advanced test that can give a picture of your cutting bone. This test gives very good about your bones and is better able to identify a possible tumor. It also gives additional information on the size and location of the tumor.
An MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) is another advanced test, which can also provide images cut from the body. An MRI provides greater detail of soft tissue, including muscles, tendons, ligaments, nerves and blood vessels of CT. This test can give better details on whether tumor of the bone was broken bone involved and the surrounding soft tissues.
A bone scan is a test which identifies the areas of rapid growth or bone remodeling. The bone scan is often taken of the entire body. This test may be ordered to see if there are other areas of bone involvement in the organization.
If a tumor is identified, the doctor will use all the information on the history and physical examination as well as laboratory studies and imaging and drew up a list possible causes (differential diagnosis).
Your doctor can then obtain a sample of biopsy of the tumor. This involves taking a small sample of the tumor which can be examined in the laboratory to determine what kind of tumor it is. The biopsy can be obtained either through a small needle (needle biopsy) or through a small incision (incisional biopsy).
Treatment of Cancer
There are various methods available for your doctor to treat bone cancer. The best treatment is based on the type of bone cancer, the location of the cancer, how cancer is aggressive, and whether or not the cancer has invaded surrounding tissues or distant (metastases).
There are three main types of treatment for bone cancer :-
- Surgery :
- Surgery is often used to treat bone cancer. The goal of surgery is usually to remove the entire tumor and surrounding area of normal bone. After the tumor was removed, a pathologist examines to determine if it is normal to the bone completely surrounding the tumor. If a portion of the left behind the cancer is, it can continue to grow and spread, requiring further treatment. Historically, the amputations were frequently used to remove bone cancer. Newer techniques have reduced the need for amputation. In many cases, the tumor can be removed by a normal rim of the bone without the need for amputation.
- Depending on the amount of bone removed, the surgeon will replace something in his situation. For small areas, it can be either cement or a bone bone from elsewhere in your body or the bone bank. For larger areas, the surgeon may place greater bone grafts from the bank or metallic implants. Some of these metal implants have the option of extending when used in the culture of children.
- Surgery is often used to treat bone cancer. The goal of surgery is usually to remove the entire tumor and surrounding area of normal bone. After the tumor was removed, a pathologist examines to determine if it is normal to the bone completely surrounding the tumor. If a portion of the left behind the cancer is, it can continue to grow and spread, requiring further treatment. Historically, the amputations were frequently used to remove bone cancer. Newer techniques have reduced the need for amputation. In many cases, the tumor can be removed by a normal rim of the bone without the need for amputation.
- Chemotherapy :
- It is the use of various drugs used to try to stop the growth of cancer cells. Chemotherapy can be used before surgery to try to reduce the size of the tumor of bone make it easier surgery. It can also be used after surgery to try to kill any remaining cancer cells left following surgery.
- Radiotherapy :
- Radiation therapy uses high-energy X-ray to the location of the tumor in an attempt to kill cancer cells. This treatment is given to small daily doses over a period of several days to several months.
Effects of Treatments
Unfortunately, there are risks and side effects of each treatment of bone cancer.
- Surgery Effects :
- The main risks associated with the operation include infection, the recurrence of the disease, injuries and surrounding tissue. In order to remove the entire cancer and reduce the risk of recurrence, some surrounding normal tissues must also be removed.
- Depending on the location of the cancer, which may require the removal of certain parts of the bones, muscles, nerves or blood vessels. This could cause weakness, loss of sensation, and the risk of fracture or fracture of the bone remaining. You may be referred to a specialist for the physical and occupational therapy after surgery to try to improve your strength and function.
- The main risks associated with the operation include infection, the recurrence of the disease, injuries and surrounding tissue. In order to remove the entire cancer and reduce the risk of recurrence, some surrounding normal tissues must also be removed.
- Chemotherapy Treatment Effects :
- Chemotherapy is the use of very powerful drugs to try to kill cancer cells. Unfortunately, some normal cells are also killed in the process. The drugs are designed to kill or division more rapidly cells. Cells that are affected often include hair, blood forming cells and the cells lining the digestive system. Side effects include nausea and vomiting, hair loss, infection, and fatigue. Fortunately, these side effects usually resolve after chemotherapy is over. Good nutrition is important to your body fight cancer. You can be referred to a specialist in nutrition to help it, especially if you experience nausea, and loss of appetite.
- Radiotherapy Treatment Effects :
- The main side effects of radiotherapy and fatigue, loss of appetite, and damage to the surrounding skin and other soft tissues. Before radiation can also increase the risk of injury problems of surgery in the same area.
