Although bone cancer can start in any bone in the body, the pelvis or the long bones in the arms and legs are the most frequently affected. Less than 1% of all malignancies are bone cancers, making them extremely uncommon. In actuality, benign bone tumours are significantly more prevalent than malignant ones.
The phrase “bone cancer” excludes tumours that start in other parts of the body and “metastasize” (spread) to the bone. Instead, those tumours are given their original starting points as names, such as bone metastasizing breast cancer.
While some types of cancer usually affect adults, others mostly affect youngsters. The most common form of treatment is surgical removal, but chemotherapy and radiation therapy are other options. The type of cancer being treated determines whether surgery, chemotherapy, or radiation therapy should be used.
Symptoms
Symptoms and signs include:
- A bone ache
- Affected area tenderness and swelling
- Fractured bone due to weakened bone
- Fatigue
- Unwanted loss of weight
Whenever to visit a doctor
You should schedule a visit with your doctor if you or your kid experiences bone pain that:
- Ebbs and flows
- Deteriorates more at night
- Is not alleviated by over-the-counter analgesics
Causes
Most bone malignancies have an unknown aetiology. Some bone tumours have a hereditary component, whereas others are correlated with radiation exposure in the past.
Various Bone Cancers
Based on the type of cell from which the disease started, different types of bone cancer are classified. The most typical forms of bone cancer consist of:
Osteosarcoma. The most prevalent type of bone cancer is osteosarcoma. The malignant cells in this tumour generate bone. The bones of the leg or arm are the most common sites for this type of bone cancer to develop in children and young adults. Osteosarcomas can occasionally develop outside of the skeleton (extraskeletal osteosarcomas).
Chondrosarcoma. The second most frequent type of bone cancer is chondrosarcoma. The malignant cells in this tumour create cartilage. In middle-aged and older adults, chondrosarcoma typically develops in the pelvis, legs, or arms.
Sarcoma of Ewing. Children and young adults’ pelvis, legs, or arms are the most likely locations for Ewing sarcoma tumors to develop.
Risk elements
Although the exact cause is unknown, many factors have been linked to a higher risk, including:
Genetic disorders inherited. Li-Fraumeni syndrome and hereditary retinoblastoma are two examples of rare genetic diseases that raise the risk of cancer in families.
Bone disease caused by Paget. Paget’s disease of the bone, which most frequently affects elderly persons, can raise the chance of later-onset bone cancer.
Cancer radiation treatment. Future cancer risk is increased by exposure to high radiation doses, such as those used in radiation therapy for cancer.
