Bone Cancer Signs
Over 2,000 people are diagnosed with bone cancer each year in the United States, according to MedicineNet. There are numerous kinds of different bone cancers, most commonly affecting children and young adults. When bone cancer is diagnosed in older people, it is usually from a spreading cancer that originated somewhere else in the body, or not directly from cancer of the bone cells.
Causes
While the causes of bone cancer are not known, particular risk factors may lead to certain people more likely to develop bone caner. Risk factors include being an adolescent, history of radiation or chemotherapy, history of Paget's disease (chronic bone condition), one or more family members that have bone cancer and people with hereditary retinoblastoma (eye cancer that usually affects children younger than five years old), according to eMedTV.
Malignant Types
Listed by MedicineNet, here are the most common malignant bone cancers.
- Osteosarcoma affects areas of quick growth, most common in boys 10 to 25 years old, and includes the bones in the arms, legs, knees and shoulders. MedicineNet reports that, because there is a high risk of spreading to the lungs, there is a 65 percent chance of a five-year survival rate.
- Ewing's sarcoma affects children between the ages of 4 and 15, usually starting in the bones of the arms and legs. With a rapid ability to spread quickly, there is only a 65 percent chance of a three-year survival rate, informs MedicineNet.
- Chondrosacrcoma affects usually older men, starting in the 40s, usually targeting the bones and the hips. Responsible for a quarter of all malignant tumors, the tumors can act very slowly or quickly.
-Malignant fibrous histiocytoma (MFH) targets the soft tissues as well as muscle, ligaments, fat and tendons. Usually develops in older people, around the age of 50 or 60.
- Lymphoma and multiple myeloma are two cancers that may develop in the bones, but from the bone marrow not the bone cells and is therefore not normally considered bone cancer.
Signs
According to Mayo Clinic, there are noticeable signs of bone cancer. Bone pain, swelling and tenderness, weakened bones from the tumor that may develop fractures, fatigue and unintentional weight loss, are all symptoms of bone cancer. MedicineNet.com also mentions that, the tumor, if left without any medical attention over a long period of time, can lead to a large enough lump that can be felt near or on the bone itself. Not as frequent, fever, chills and night sweats can also develop as a result of bone cancer, usually occurring when the cancer has extended to tissues in other parts of the body.
Treatments
In order to treat bone cancer, there are three aggressive treatments that can be used individually or grouped together: surgery, chemotherapy and radiation. Surgery is used to remove the tumor and the area near it. Chemotherapy is used to prevent any more growth of the tumor, possibly decreasing its size and killing cancer cells. Radiation is attempted to kill the caner cells over a long period of time.
Side Effects
MedicineNet provides the side effects of the three aggressive treatments used against bone cancer.
Surgery: infection, bone cancer returning, injury to areas close to the tumor being removed
Chemotherapy: in the process of killing the cancerous cells, normal cells are also killed off including hair, blood-forming cells and cells that line the digestive system, which results in nausea, vomiting, hair loss, fatigue and infection.
Radiation: fatigue, no longer feel hungry and injury to the surrounding skin and soft tissues
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