The bones in the body primarily comprise bone marrow, osteoid cells and cartilage. In some adults, genetic mutations can develop in these osteoid cells, which cause them to grow abnormally quickly, leading to bone cancer. Bone cancer can also result from cancers elsewhere in the body invading the bone.
Primary vs. Secondary
There are two distinct types of bone cancer: primary and secondary. Primary bone cancer, the American Cancer Society explains, describes any sort of bone cancer that arises from bone cells. Secondary bone cancer, on the other hand, is caused by cancer from other tissues spreading to the bones. Secondary bone cancer is more common than primary bone cancer.
Primary Types
One form of primary bone cancer, according to the National Cancer Institute, is called osteosarcoma. Osteosarcomas arise from the hard bone cells, also known as the osteoid cells. These types of bone cancer most commonly occur in the upper arm and knee. Chondrosarcomas describe bone cancer that arises from the cartilage and are most commonly found at the ends of bones and in joints. The Ewing sarcoma family of bone cancers arises from cells of unknown origin and can occur both in bones and the surrounding soft tissue.
Symptoms
The main symptoms of bone cancer are pain, swelling and tenderness around the affected bone, the Mayo Clinic explains. Bones that are affected by cancer may also be abnormally weak, leading to them fracturing more easily. Bone cancer can also lead to fatigue and unexplained weight loss.
Diagnosis
The first step to diagnosing bone cancer is often some sort of imaging test, such as an MRI, an X-ray or a CT scan. These tests allow physicians to visualize the bones and look for any abnormalities. If bone cancer is suspected, a sample of the affected tissue will need to be examined under a microscope to look for abnormal cells. This can be done using a needle biopsy or a surgeon may manually remove a small piece of bone tissue for analysis.
Treatment
As the Mayo Clinic explains, bone cancer is often treated surgically. Surgery involves removing the cancerous portion of the bone as well as some of the surrounding healthy tissue to ensure that as much of the cancer as possible is removed. If the cancer is in a limb, the entire limb may be removed. Patients may also receive radiation therapy, which uses high energy X-ray beams to kill the cancerous cells. Chemotherapy, which uses medications that poison the cancerous cells, can also be used to shrink the tumor before surgery.
