Bone cancer is a term that is used for many different cancers that develop in the bones. It
can form in any bone in the body, but it generally affects the pelvis or the long bones in the
legs and arms. When cancer cells grow in the bone, they can harm the normal bone tissue.
The type of cell and tissue where cancer begins usually determines the type of bone cancer
one has. Bone cancer is a rare type of cancer, making up less than 1 percent of all other
cancers. As a matter of fact, noncancerous bone tumors are typically more common than
cancerous ones. To learn more about the symptoms of bone cancer and how it starts, read
on.
Some types of bone cancer occur primarily in children, whereas others mostly affect adults.
Removal through surgery is the most common treatment, but radiation therapy and
chemotherapy may also be utilised. The decision to use chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or
surgery is based on the type of bone cancer that is being treated.
Primary Bone Cancer:
Cancers that start in your bones are called primary bone cancers or bone sarcoma. It is a
cancerous tumor that develops in your bone. But, these types of cancers are not very
common. Experts aren’t exactly sure what causes it, but your genes may play a role. Primary
bone cancers are also known as bone sarcomas. Sarcomas are cancers that start in the
bone, fibrous tissue, blood vessels, muscle, and fat tissue, and can develop anywhere in the
body. There are several kinds of primary bone cancer.
Osteosarcoma – It forms around your knee and upper arm, and young adults and
teens are most likely to get it.
Ewing sarcoma – It mostly happens in people between the age group of 5 – 20. Your
leg, pelvis, ribs, and upper arm are the most common areas.
Chondrosarcoma – It happens most often in people between the ages of 40 – 70.
Your pelvis, hip, leg, shoulder, and arm are the common sites of this cancer.
Secondary Bone Cancer:
Mostly, when an adult is told that they have cancer in the bones, the doctor is talking about
cancer that has started somewhere else and then spread to the bones. These growths are
called metastatic or secondary bone cancers. For example, if lung cancer has spread to your
bones, then that’s secondary bone cancer. Any cancer that moves from one part of your
body to another is known as metastatic cancer. Prostate, breast, and lung tumors most
commonly spread (metastasize) to the bones.
Signs and Symptoms of Bone Cancer.
The Bone cancer can affect any bone, but in most cases, it develops in the long bones of the
upper arms or legs. The main symptoms of bone cancer are:
Persistent bone pain that gets worse with time
A noticeable lump over a bone
Swelling and redness around a bone
Problem in moving around – For example, limping
A weak bone that breaks (fractures) easily
Fatigue and Weight loss
Bone cancer treatments can create issues over time for your lungs, heart, brain, bones,
hearing, or fertility. Therefore, it’s imperative to have regular checkups with your doctor to
watch for such complications and to make sure that bone cancer doesn’t return.
