bone cancer symptom

Bone Cancer is the most common malignant growth that occurs in bone results from cancer that has spread from other parts of the body - secondary bone cancer. Bone cancer can be extremely painful and frightening for the children and adults that it strikes. Cancer that arises in the bone itself is primary bone cancer. All forms are rare. The best bone cancer treatments combine several types of therapies. For example, our surgeons, oncologists, and radiation therapists work together to improve the success rates of bone cancer surgery by using chemotherapy treatments prior to surgery.

The most common forms of primary bone cancer are:

1. Osteosarcoma , which occurs primarily in growing bone tissue. Osteosarcoma also called osteogenic sarcoma, arises in bone-forming cells. It can occur at any age but is most common between 10 and 20. Any bone can be affected, but more than half of all osteosarcomas develop around the knee. Osteosarcoma causes a painful swelling of the affected bone.

2. Chondrosarcoma , which occurs in cartilage. Chondrosarcoma usually develops in middle age, and the tumour grows slowly in the early stages. Later it may spread to nearby soft tissues and to other parts of the body. The diagnosis can only be made by biopsy, and treatment is by surgical removal of the tumour. In some cases, amputa-tion of the bone above the tumour is advised to improve the chance of cure.

3. Ewing's sarcoma , which arises primarily in immature tissue in bone marrow. If Ewing's sarcoma is suspected from its X-ray appearance and confirmed by biopsy, CAT and radionuclide scanning of the whole body is advised to discove whether, and how far, the cancer has spread Treatment is with a combination of chemotherapy and radiotherapy, and sometimes by surgery. There is a good chance of cure if the diagnosis is early.

Depending on the type of cancer you have and whether it has spread, your doctor may use chemotherapy to:

· Eliminate all cancer cells in your body, even when cancer is widespread

· Prolong your life by controlling cancer growth and spread

· Relieve symptoms and enhance your quality of life

Symptoms of Bone Cancer

Here is the list of some of the common sign and symptoms of bone cancer :

· Weakened bones, sometimes leading to fractures

· Joint swelling and tenderness (for tumors in or near joints)

· Fatigue

· Fever

· Weight loss

· Anemia

In a few cases, bone cancers may have a hereditary component, such as in:

· Li-Fraumeni syndrome. This condition is characterized by an increased risk of many different cancers, including osteosarcoma, leukemia, breast cancer, ovarian cancer and others.

· Rothmund-Thomson syndrome. This condition causes short stature, skeletal problems and rashes, and increases risk of bone cancer.

· Hereditary retinoblastoma. Children with this rare cancer of the eye have an increased risk of osteosarcoma. · Multiple exostoses. Children with this inherited condition that causes cartilage bumps to form on your bones have an increased risk of chondrosarcoma.

What are symptoms of bone cancer?

Symptoms of bone cancer tend to develop slowly. They depend on the type, location, and size of the tumor.

Pain is the most frequent symptom of bone cancer. Sometimes a firm, slightly tender lump on the bone can be felt through the skin. In some cases, bone cancer interferes with normal movements. Bone cancer can also cause bones to break.

These symptoms are not sure signs of cancer. They may also be caused by other, less serious problems. Individuals who are experiencing symptoms should consult a doctor.

How is bone cancer diagnosed?

To diagnose bone cancer, the doctor asks about the patient's personal and family medical history and does a complete physical exam. In addition to checking the general signs of health, the doctor usually orders blood tests and x-rays. X-rays can show the location, size, and shape of a bone tumor. On x-rays, benign tumors usually look round and smooth, with distinct edges. Bone cancers generally have odd shapes and irregular edges.

If x-rays show that the tumor is possible cancer, some of the following special tests may be done. These tests can also show whether the cancer has begun to spread.

Bone scans outline the size, shape, and location of abnormal areas in the bone. A small amount of radioactive material is injected into the bloodstream. This material collects in the bones and is detected by a special instrument called a scanner.

CT or CAT scan <http://www.medicinenet.com/script_/main/art.asp?articlekey=315> is an x-ray procedure that gives detailed pictures of cross-sections of the body. The pictures are created by a computer.

MRI (magnetic resonance imaging also creates detailed pictures of cross-sections of the body. MRI uses a very strong magnet linked to a computer.

Angiograms are special x-rays of the blood vessels. A dye that shows up on x-rays is injected into the bloodstream so that the vessels can be seen in detail. This test is also done to help plan surgery.

A biopsy is the only sure way to tell whether cancer is present. Biopsies are best done at a hospital where doctors are experienced in the diagnosis of bone cancers. The doctor removes a sample of tissue from the bone tumor. A pathologist looks at the tissue under a microscope. If cancer is found, the pathologist can tell the type of sarcoma and whether it is likely to grow slowly or quickly.

If a diagnosis of bone cancer is made, it is important for the doctor to know exactly where the cancer is located and whether it has spread from its original location. This information is very important for planning treatment. The results of exams, tests, x-rays, scans, and the biopsy are all used in staging the cancer. The stage indicates whether the disease has spread and how much tissue is affected.