Bone Cancer: Causes, Symptoms & Treatments
Bone cancer can refer to primary bone cancer or secondary bone cancer and the two types are quite different. Primary bone cancer is cancer that begins in the bones. Secondary (metastatic) bone cancer refers to a cancer that started elsewhere in the body and has spread to the bones.Bone cancer signs and symptoms
The most common symptom of Bone Cancer is pain in the bones and joints, which may be worse at night or during activity. Other symptoms may include:
- swelling over the affected part of the bone
- stiffness or tenderness in the bone
- problems with movement
- unexplained weight loss
- a fractured bone
- loss of feeling in the affected limb
- tiredness
Causes of bone cancer
Some factors that can increase your risk of bone cancer include:
- previous radiotherapy, particularly for people who received high doses at a young age
- other bone conditions, such as Paget's disease of the bone
- genetic factors, such as inherited conditions like Li-Fraumeni syndrome, and a strong family history of certain cancers.
Diagnosis of bone cancer
If you are experiencing symptoms, the following tests may be used to identify a bone cancer diagnosis:
Blood tests
Blood tests will include a full blood count to check your general health.
X-rays
X-rays are used to scan the bones to reveal any damage.
CT scan
A CT (computerised tomography) scan is a test using x-rays and a computer to create detailed pictures of the inside of your body. The computer will then put the images together to create a three dimensional image that can highlight any bone abnormality.
Treatment for bone cancer
Primary bone cancer treatment in india is usually treated with surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy or a combination of these treatments.
Staging
If cancer is detected, your doctor will determine the grade and stage of your cancer. Grading refers to how quickly a tumour might grow. Staging describes how far cancer has spread.
Limb-sparing surgery
Surgery to remove the cancer but spare the limb is the most common type of surgery for bone cancer. Under general anaesthetic, the surgeon removes the affected part of the bone where the cancer is growing. The bone that is removed is replaced with either an implant (prosthesis) or a bone graft, using a healthy part of bone from another part of the body or from a "bone bank".
Amputation
When it is not possible to remove all of the cancer without affecting the arm or leg too much, the limb will be removed. This is becoming increasingly less common. After the area has healed, a replacement limb (prosthesis) will be prepared.
Other areas of the body
Surgery usually involves removing the cancer, the affected bone along with some healthy tissue around it. Bones from other parts of the body may be used to replace the bone that was removed.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy drugs are used to destroy or damage cancer cells. For certain types of bone cancer, chemotherapy can be used in combination with surgery to either shrink the tumour before surgery, or after surgery to kill any cancer cells left behind.
Chemotherapy can also be used as a form of palliative treatment, to arrest the growth, or control the symptoms of advanced cancer.
Radiation therapy (radiotherapy)
Radiation therapy uses high energy rays to destroy or damage cancer cells. It may be given before surgery, to help make surgery easier and safer, or after surgery, to reduce the chance of the cancer cells regrowing.
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