When a malignant tumor develops from the cells that make up the bones of the body, it is called bone cancer. This type of cancer is primary bone cancer and is true bone cancer. When cancer originates elsewhere in the body and spreads to the bones, it is secondary bone cancer and the treatment is different than that of primary bone cancer. Bone cancer is a rare cancer and is less than 1 percent of all the other cancers. Bone cancer is quite rare in adults. Benign tumors are more common than malignant tumors. Bone cancer usually arises in the pelvis or in the long bones of either arms or legs.
Types of Bone cancer
There are three most common types of bone cancers.
The most common type of bone cancer of them is Osteosarcoma. It usually affects older children, teenagers and young adults. In this type of cancer, the cells produce excess bone usually in the long bones of the arms or the legs. However, it could affect any other bones too. Osteosarcoma is more common in males.
The second commonly known bone cancer called Chondrosarcoma. It occurs in the cells of the cartilage. It usually affects people above the age of 40 years and occurs in bones of the hips and pelvis. Women are as likely as men to get affected by Chondrosarcoma.
Ewing sarcoma is a type of bone cancer that usually affects children and young adults. It occurs in the long bones in the arms and legs and bones of the pelvis.
Symptoms
The most common symptoms of bone cancer are pain, swelling and tenderness in the affected area, fatigue, weight loss, lump in the area that is affected and weakened bones that could lead to fractures.
Causes
Unlike other cancers, there is no precise cause for getting bone cancer. Hereditary and environmental factors could be responsible for a small number of cases. In some cases it could be attributed to previous radiation exposure. The groups of people who are at risk for developing bone cancer are, people who have received radiation therapy, people with a relative who has had bone cancer, children and young adults, people with Paget’s disease, and people with inherited genetic syndromes such as retinoblastoma and Li-fraumeni syndrome.
Treatment
Treatment of bone cancer usually depends on the following factors:
- What is the type of cancer?
- Where is it located?
- Whether it is still localised or has it spread?
- How aggressive is it?
Depending on the above factors, the treatment may involve surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy or a mix of all three usually.
Like in all cancers, early detection ensures a good chance of survival.
Disclaimer: The information in no way constitutes, or should be construed as medical advice. Nor is the above article an endorsement of any research findings discussed in the article an endorsement for any of the source publications.
Sources-
- https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/bone-cancer/symptoms-causes/syc-20350217
- https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/171372.php
- https://www.cancer.org/cancer/bone-cancer/about/what-is-bone-cancer.html
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