Bone Cancer
Posted September 14, 2022 by Anusha ‐ 2 min read
Bone cancer is when unusual cells grow out of control in your bone. It destroys normal bone tissue. It may start in your bone or spread there from other parts of your body (called metastasis).
Causes of Bone Cancer
Experts are not certain what causes bone cancer, but they have found links between bone cancer and other factors.
The most important factor is being exposed to radiation or drugs during treatment for other cancers.
Some bone cancers occur due to conditions that are passed down in families (hereditary), although this is not usually the case.
Stages of Bone Cancer
Stage 1: The tumor is low-grade, and the cancer cells are still localized.
Stage 2: The cancer cells are still localized, but the tumor is high-grade.
Stage 3: The tumor is high-grade and cancer has spread to other areas within the same bone.
Stage 4: Cancer had spread from the bone to other areas of the body, such as the lungs or liver.
Symptoms of Bone Cancer
Fevers
Night sweats
Swelling around a bone
Limping
Fatigue
Weight loss
Diagnosis of Bone Cancer
X-rays
These show tumors and how big they are.
CT scans
A computer uses X-rays to make more detailed pictures.
MRI scans
These use a strong magnet to show inside your body.
PET scans
A technician injects radioactive glucose (sugar) into your vein. A scanner then spots cancer cells, which use more glucose than regular cells.
Bone scans
A technician injects a different radioactive material into your vein. It collects in your bones, where a scanner can see it.
Treatment of Bone Cancer
Limb salvage surgery
Your doctor removes the part of the bone with cancer but not nearby muscles, tendons, or other tissues. They put a metallic implant in place of the bone.
Amputation
If a tumor is large or reaches your nerves and blood vessels, your doctor might remove the limb. You may get a prosthetic limb afterward.
Radiation therapy
This kills cancer cells and shrinks tumors with strong X-rays. Doctors often use it along with surgery.
Chemotherapy
This kills tumor cells with cancer drugs. Your doctor might use it before surgery, after surgery, or for metastatic cancer.
Targeted therapy
This drug treatment targets certain genetic, protein, or other changes in or around cancer cells.