Bone Cancer Symptoms
According to the Mayo Clinic, the three most common types of bone cancer are chondrosarcoma, osteosarcoma and Ewing's sarcoma. Chondrosarcoma forms in the bone cartilage, osteosarcoma forms in bone tissues and Ewing's sarcoma forms in newly developing tissue within the bone marrow. Statistics show that chondrosarcoma occurs most often in adults older than 50, while osteosarcoma and Ewing's most often develop in children and young adults. There are certain symptoms that are representative of bone cancer, although they are also common symptoms for other illnesses and therefore can be mistaken for something else. The Mayo Clinic lists these symptoms as pain, tenderness and inflammation in the joints; fatigue; fever; weight loss; anemia; bones that are weak and fracture easily; and pain along the bone.
Image Testing
Before performing tests to see if you have bone cancer, your physician will try to rule out other medical conditions. This exam will likely include a physical exam, blood work and an interview in which she will review your medical history with you. If the doctor thinks bone cancer is a possibility, there are several tests that can be performed to make an accurate diagnosis.
The tests that will give your physician the best insight into your condition are those that involve imaging. According to the American Cancer Society, an x-ray can detect most cancers of the bone. The cancer may appear as an open hole on the bone or, instead of appearing smooth and solid, the bone may look porous and jagged. (see ref. 3 ) A CT scan is another imaging test, except unlike an x-ray, it takes pictures of your body in cross-sections, giving a 3D look into the area being diagnosed. An MRI uses magnetic imaging and radio waves to obtain images from the body. As the radio waves bounce off body tissues, a computer turns them in to pictures. If your doctor knows he is looking for a tumor, you may be injected with a substance called gadolinium, which will help the MRI machine detect a better image. (ref. 3)
Lab Testing
Once a cancerous tumor or mass is detected, the physician will then likely perform a biopsy in which a piece of the mass or tumor is taken to the lab. Biopsies are performed through surgery or with needles, which remove smaller pieces of tissue. Surgical biopsies remove part or all of the cancerous mass. Biopsies determine if the mass is cancerous, and if so, the exact type of cancer.
According to the American Cancer Society, there are times that cancer cells can leave another part of the body they originated in and begin growing on the bone or its tissues. There may be times when bone cancer is assumed, but after a biopsy and examination of the cells, it is revealed that the mass is actually composed of lung cancer or cells from another type of cancer.
After a positive diagnosis of bone cancer, many of the imaging tests may be repeated to help determine the stage the cancer, as well as if it has spread to another area of the body.
