Bone Cancer
Causes, Symptoms, Treatment, and Prevention of Bone Cancer
Bone cancer is a type of cancer that can affect both children and adults, although it is more common in children and teens. It is categorized based on whether the cancer originated in the bone (primary) or whether it spread from another location to the bone (secondary). Secondary bone cancer, or cancer that has spread to the bone from another part of the body, is much more common than primary bone cancer. In fact, primary bone cancer is considered rare. We'll focus specifically on primary bone cancer here.
There are several types of primary bone cancer, including:
• osteosarcoma
• chondrosarcoma
• Ewing's sarcoma
• malignant fibrous histiocytoma
• fibrosarcoma
• chordoma
Osteosarcoma, chondrosarcoma, and Ewing's sarcoma are the most commonly diagnosed types of bone cancer. Other types of cancer can occur in the bone, such as lymphoma and multiple myeloma. Lymphoma most often develops in the lymph nodes, but can begin in the bone. Multiple meyeloma affects the bone marrow cells, not the actual cells of the bone, so it is not characterized as a true bone cancer.
Causes of Bone Cancer
Although we can't pinpoint exactly why malignant bone tumors form, researchers have discovered that some hereditary conditions can increase the risk of bone cancer. Examples of hereditary conditions that may increase the risk of bone cancer include:
• Multiple exostoses
• Rothmund-Thomson syndrome
• hereditary retinoblastoma
• Li-Fraumeni syndrome
Adults with Paget's disease of the bone may also be at an increased risk of developing bone cancer.
Previous radiation therapy treatment has been associated with bone cancer. This correlation is strongest if the radiation therapy was given during childhood. This, however, does not make having radiation therapy as cancer treatment harmful or unsafe. For most people with cancer, the benefit of having radiation therapy far exceeds any risks. This risk does not include radiation exposure from routine x-rays.
Symptoms of Bone Cancer
Symptoms may vary based on the type of bone cancer, but pain is the most commonly experienced symptom. Bone cancer most often occurs in the long bones of the body (arms and legs), so these are the most common sites for pain. Keep in mind that not all bone tumors are cancerous; some are benign. Bone pain is more often related to a benign condition, like an injury, than it is to cancer.
Other symptoms of bone cancer include:
• joint tenderness or inflammation
• fractures due to bone weakness
Non-specific symptoms like fever, unintentional weight loss, fatigue, and anemia can also be symptoms of bone cancer, but are also indicators of other less severe conditions.
Diagnosing Bone Cancer
Symptoms combined with other findings during a physical exam may suggest the presence of bone cancer, but additional tests are needed to confirm any suspicion.
Imaging tests, like x-rays, MRIs, and CT scans, help identify any bone abnormalities. Other tests may include a bone scan, a specialized nuclear imaging test that allows doctors to see the metabolic activity of the bone. Bone scans identify areas in the bone that have new growth or have broken down -- excellent indicators of conditions.
Ultimately, it is a bone biopsy that will rule out or confirm the presence of cancer. A bone biopsy involves the removal of a small amount of bone tissue to be examined under a microscope. It usually takes less than an hour and can be done as an outpatient or surgical procedure.
Doing a biopsy on someone with primary bone cancer can be complex because there is a risk of spreading the cancer during the procedure. The procedure should be done by a surgeon who has experience performing bone biopsies on those with primary bone cancer.
If cancer is detected, it is then graded and staged by a pathologist. Grading and staging classifications vary based on the type of bone cancer. Ideally, the pathologist examining the sample will be experienced in diagnosing bone cancer.
Treatment of Bone Cancer
The key to successful treatment is having a treatment team that is experienced in primary bone cancer. Many types of bone cancer are very rare, and having a team that is highly experienced in managing bone cancer is a necessity. Several different types of doctors make up these unique treatment teams and include medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, radiologists, surgical oncologists, orthopedic oncologists, and specialized pathologists.
• Find a Bone Cancer Physician
There are three standard forms of treatment for primary bone cancer: surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy. Many times, more than one treatment method is required, such as surgery along with radiation therapy. Treatment varies based on type of bone cancer, if it has spread (metastasized), and other general health factors.
Surgery: Bone cancer is most commonly treated with surgery. Surgical treatment for bone cancer that has not spread involves removing the cancerous tissue and a small margin of healthy bone tissue surrounding it. Some tumors may require chemotherapy or radiation therapy in addition to surgical treatment.
Radiation Therapy: Radiation therapy uses specific types high energy beams of radiation to shrink tumors or eliminate cancer cells. Radiation therapy works by damaging a cancer cell's DNA, making it unable to multiply. Although radiation therapy can damage nearby healthy cells, cancer cells are highly sensitive to radiation and typically die when treated. Healthy cells that are damaged during radiation are resilient and are often able to fully recover.
Chemotherapy: Chemotherapy is often prescribed to treat bone cancer. Chemotherapy drugs work by eliminating rapidly multiplying cancer cells. However, there are other healthy cells in the body that multiply just as quickly, such as hair follicle cells. Unfortunately, many chemotherapy drugs may not be able to discern the two, attacking healthy cells and causing side effects like hair loss.
Source:
American Cancer Society. Detailed Guide: Bone Cancer What Is Bone Cancer? July 07, 2008.
http://www.cancer.org/Cancer/BoneCancer/DetailedGuide/bone-cancer-what-is-bone-cancer
National Cancer Institute. Bone Cancer.
http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/types/bone
Causes, Symptoms, Treatment, and Prevention of Bone Cancer
Bone cancer is a type of cancer that can affect both children and adults, although it is more common in children and teens. It is categorized based on whether the cancer originated in the bone (primary) or whether it spread from another location to the bone (secondary). Secondary bone cancer, or cancer that has spread to the bone from another part of the body, is much more common than primary bone cancer. In fact, primary bone cancer is considered rare. We'll focus specifically on primary bone cancer here.
There are several types of primary bone cancer, including:
• osteosarcoma
• chondrosarcoma
• Ewing's sarcoma
• malignant fibrous histiocytoma
• fibrosarcoma
• chordoma
Osteosarcoma, chondrosarcoma, and Ewing's sarcoma are the most commonly diagnosed types of bone cancer. Other types of cancer can occur in the bone, such as lymphoma and multiple myeloma. Lymphoma most often develops in the lymph nodes, but can begin in the bone. Multiple meyeloma affects the bone marrow cells, not the actual cells of the bone, so it is not characterized as a true bone cancer.
Causes of Bone Cancer
Although we can't pinpoint exactly why malignant bone tumors form, researchers have discovered that some hereditary conditions can increase the risk of bone cancer. Examples of hereditary conditions that may increase the risk of bone cancer include:
• Multiple exostoses
• Rothmund-Thomson syndrome
• hereditary retinoblastoma
• Li-Fraumeni syndrome
Adults with Paget's disease of the bone may also be at an increased risk of developing bone cancer.
Previous radiation therapy treatment has been associated with bone cancer. This correlation is strongest if the radiation therapy was given during childhood. This, however, does not make having radiation therapy as cancer treatment harmful or unsafe. For most people with cancer, the benefit of having radiation therapy far exceeds any risks. This risk does not include radiation exposure from routine x-rays.
Symptoms of Bone Cancer
Symptoms may vary based on the type of bone cancer, but pain is the most commonly experienced symptom. Bone cancer most often occurs in the long bones of the body (arms and legs), so these are the most common sites for pain. Keep in mind that not all bone tumors are cancerous; some are benign. Bone pain is more often related to a benign condition, like an injury, than it is to cancer.
Other symptoms of bone cancer include:
• joint tenderness or inflammation
• fractures due to bone weakness
Non-specific symptoms like fever, unintentional weight loss, fatigue, and anemia can also be symptoms of bone cancer, but are also indicators of other less severe conditions.
Diagnosing Bone Cancer
Symptoms combined with other findings during a physical exam may suggest the presence of bone cancer, but additional tests are needed to confirm any suspicion.
Imaging tests, like x-rays, MRIs, and CT scans, help identify any bone abnormalities. Other tests may include a bone scan, a specialized nuclear imaging test that allows doctors to see the metabolic activity of the bone. Bone scans identify areas in the bone that have new growth or have broken down -- excellent indicators of conditions.
Ultimately, it is a bone biopsy that will rule out or confirm the presence of cancer. A bone biopsy involves the removal of a small amount of bone tissue to be examined under a microscope. It usually takes less than an hour and can be done as an outpatient or surgical procedure.
Doing a biopsy on someone with primary bone cancer can be complex because there is a risk of spreading the cancer during the procedure. The procedure should be done by a surgeon who has experience performing bone biopsies on those with primary bone cancer.
If cancer is detected, it is then graded and staged by a pathologist. Grading and staging classifications vary based on the type of bone cancer. Ideally, the pathologist examining the sample will be experienced in diagnosing bone cancer.
Treatment of Bone Cancer
The key to successful treatment is having a treatment team that is experienced in primary bone cancer. Many types of bone cancer are very rare, and having a team that is highly experienced in managing bone cancer is a necessity. Several different types of doctors make up these unique treatment teams and include medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, radiologists, surgical oncologists, orthopedic oncologists, and specialized pathologists.
• Find a Bone Cancer Physician
There are three standard forms of treatment for primary bone cancer: surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy. Many times, more than one treatment method is required, such as surgery along with radiation therapy. Treatment varies based on type of bone cancer, if it has spread (metastasized), and other general health factors.
Surgery: Bone cancer is most commonly treated with surgery. Surgical treatment for bone cancer that has not spread involves removing the cancerous tissue and a small margin of healthy bone tissue surrounding it. Some tumors may require chemotherapy or radiation therapy in addition to surgical treatment.
Radiation Therapy: Radiation therapy uses specific types high energy beams of radiation to shrink tumors or eliminate cancer cells. Radiation therapy works by damaging a cancer cell's DNA, making it unable to multiply. Although radiation therapy can damage nearby healthy cells, cancer cells are highly sensitive to radiation and typically die when treated. Healthy cells that are damaged during radiation are resilient and are often able to fully recover.
Chemotherapy: Chemotherapy is often prescribed to treat bone cancer. Chemotherapy drugs work by eliminating rapidly multiplying cancer cells. However, there are other healthy cells in the body that multiply just as quickly, such as hair follicle cells. Unfortunately, many chemotherapy drugs may not be able to discern the two, attacking healthy cells and causing side effects like hair loss.
Source:
American Cancer Society. Detailed Guide: Bone Cancer What Is Bone Cancer? July 07, 2008.
http://www.cancer.org/Cancer/BoneCancer/DetailedGuide/bone-cancer-what-is-bone-cancer
National Cancer Institute. Bone Cancer.
http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/types/bone
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