INFORMATION ON BONE CANCER

Bone cancer is the cancer that starts in the bone. These Tumors can be benign or malignant. Malignant Bone cancers are cancerous tumours and have the probability to spread to other parts of the body they attack and demolish nearby healthy tissues and organs and can break away from the tumor and enter into the bloodstream as well this is how these malignant bone cancer spread to other parts of the body whereas benign (non-cancerous) bones tumours do not spread to other parts and are not cancerous actually as it can be removed. Even if they return they can be removed again with the help of surgery. Benign bone tumours are more common than malignant (cancerous) bone tumours.

Bone cancers are found mostly in the arms and legs, but can occur in any part of the bone in the body. Children and young people are more liable to have bone cancers than adults.

TYPES OF BONE CANCER

Osteosarcoma:- Osteosarcoma s the most common primary bone cancer. Mostly young people between the age of 10 and 30 or people in their 60s and 70s are affected by this. Males are affected more by this cancer. These tumors develop most often in bones of the arms, legs, or pelvis.

Chondrosarcoma:- Cancer of cartilage cells are second most common primary bone cancer. People between age 20 -75 are mostly affected by this cancer. Men and women are equally to be expected to get this cancer. This cancer usually occurs in bones of the arms, legs, or pelvis but ribs and some other bones are occasionally affected.

Ewing tumor:- Ewing tumors most frequently occur in the long bones of the legs and arms but may also develop in the pelvis .less than 10% may arise in other tissues and organs.. Ewing tumor is the 3rd most common primary bone cancer. It is most common in children and teenagers and is uncommon in adults over age 30.

Fibrosarcoma and malignant fibrous histiocytoma:- Usually elderly and middle-aged adults are affected by this cancer. Cancer which develops from soft or connective tissues such as ligaments, tendons, fat, and muscle and y rarely starts in the connective tissues around bones are called Fibrosarcoma and malignant fibrous histiocytoma.

Giant cell tumor of bone:- Arms or leg bones of young and middle-aged adults are usually affected by this. This bone tumor can be either benign or malignant.

Chordoma:- Usually the base of the skull and bones of the spine are affected. In this surgery and radiation therapy are not easy because of the nearby spinal cord and nerves that may be involved. These tumors can revert back ten or more years after treatment so regular check up is important.

Secondary Bone Cancer Secondary bone cancer are cancer in which malignant cells spread to the bones from other parts of the body.

SYMPTOMS OF BONE CANCER

Pain and swelling or tenderness in the affected area is the most common type of symptom. It can weaken the bones, occasionally leading to a fracture. Tiredness, fever, weight loss, and anemia are the other symptoms of bone cancers but these symptoms usually vary from person to person and depends on the location and size of the cancer.

Symptoms of secondary bone cancer are: Pain in the bones or joints that worsens in the night and fragile, weakened bones are the main symptoms of secondary bone cancer. When the affected bones are brittle, they may fracture, even without an injury. Such a fracture may be the first sign of bone cancer.

DIAGNOSIS OF BONE CANCER

1. x-rays
2. a bone scan (a procedure that uses radioactive materials to view the bone)
3. blood and urine tests
4. a bone marrow biopsy, in which a small sample of bone marrow is taken from the affected area to be examined for cancer cells
5. MRI or CT scan to see if cancer has spread to or from another part of your body.

TREATMENT OF BONE CANCER

Usually the treatment depends on the type of cancer, where the cancer started, how advanced it is, and the parts of the body it is now affecting.

A radiation treatment is given to shrink the tumor, sluggish its growth, and relieve the pain. If you have osteosarcoma or chondrosarcoma an operation is done to remove part or all of your diseased bone or limb. If cancer began in the breast or prostate gland Hormone therapy is given. If the bone has broken or there is worry that it could break a metal piece is inserted to strengthen a weakened bone segment.

Anticancer drugs (chemotherapy) are given if the cancer started in the lungs or other organs. When there is risk of secondary cancer due to spread of a tumor from the breast or prostate an operation to remove hormone-producing organs (ovaries or testes) is done. Chemotherapy in addition to surgery and radiation therapy such combinations of treatment are often also used to treat this disease.