Bone cancer is cancerous tumors that originate in a patient's bones. Primary is exceedingly rare, with only around 2,500 new cases reported each year. Metastatic, or secondary, bone cancer is much more common, and is defined by the spread of cancer cells from the cancerous organ into other parts of the body. Many of the traditional treatments for other cancers work for bone cancer as well.
Metastatic cancer
Cancer is said to have metastasized once it has spread from the primary site, or the organ where the disease originated, to other parts of the body. Cancer cells travel from the original tumor through either the bloodstream or the lymph system. Once these cells leave the tumor, they can conceivably end up in any other part of the body, take root and form new tumors.
Signs and Symptoms
The symptoms experienced by patients with bone cancer can differ based on both the tumor's size and location. Pain, swelling and tenderness, and difficulty moving normally are the most common symptoms. Fatigue, fever, weight loss and anemia are among other symptoms a patient may have. Experiencing any or all of these symptoms does not necessarily mean you have bone cancer, but you should see a doctor nonetheless. Symptoms like these can point to serious health problems not related to cancer.
Diagnosis
Bone cancers can be diagnosed using a traditional X-ray. A doctor may order an MRI or CT scan to discover just how much bone the tumor has already destroyed, as well as whether or not it has metastasized. Next, a physician can perform a biopsy, where she removes and analyzes a sample of bone tissue, to confirm the cancer diagnosis. A patient can undergo a needle biopsy, where the doctor uses a long needle to remove a piece of bone while a patient is awake, or an open biopsy, where a surgeon cuts out a small piece of bone while a patient is under anesthesia.
Surgery
Surgery is commonly used to to remove the bone tumor as well as a small area of normal, healthy bone that surrounds it. If all of the cancerous cells are removed, the patient will not require further treatments. Amputations are necessary in severe cases, but current technology has curbed this practice. Regardless, surgeons need to replace the section of bone they remove, and this can come in the form of either a bone graft taken from another part of the body or a metal implant.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy, or introducing chemical medications to the bloodstream to stop cancer cells from growing, is another bone cancer metastasis treatment. It can be used leading up to surgery to shrink the tumor for a smoother, less invasive operation. Chemotherapy can eliminate remaining cancerous cells a surgeon might not have been able to get to.
Radiation therapy
Radiation therapy, or focusing a high-energy X-ray at a cancer site in an attempt to kill cancer cells, is often used in conjunction with the other options. Patients receive these daily treatments typically in small doses, drawn out over a specific time frame. Depending on the patient, this can be anywhere from a few days to a few months. Like chemotherapy, radiation therapy can relieve pain by shrinking tumors prior to surgery. Bone cancer cells tend to resist radiation therapy more so than chemotherapy, so this type of treatment will not be right for everyone.
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