Bone tissue growth occurs continuously throughout life, with specialized cells called osteoblasts generating and depositing new bone tissue, while other specialized cells, called osteoclasts, break down aged bone tissue. Bone cancer develops from abnormal proliferation of either cell type within the bone, leading to abnormal cell growth that damages bone structure. In its most advanced stages, bone cancer can severely damage bone and prove to be debilitating; it may eventually prove fatal.
Stage III
Stage III bone cancer refers to a cancer in which tumor growth occurs on multiple regions of one bone, according to the American Cancer Society. At this stage of cancer development, the bone cancer cells have gained some migratory ability and have begun to migrate along the bone away from the initial tumor. Depending on the cells affected by the bone cancer, patients with stage III cancer may develop multiple bony outgrowths on the affected bone, causing joint and bone pain. In other cases, stage III bone cancer growth can eat away at the affected bone, leaving the bone vulnerable to fractures and breaks. Left undetected or untreated, the cancer will continue to spread and cause further tissue damage.
Stage IVA
Once the cancer begins to spread to distant organs, specifically the lung, the cancer is considered stage IVA. Bone cancer cells can travel to the lung by entering blood vessels and traveling in the bloodstream, or by traveling through lymphatic vessels towards the center of the body. Alternatively, some bone cancers located near the lungs may migrate directly into lung tissue. Patients with bone cancer growth in the lungs commonly suffer from shortness of breath, chest pain and weight loss, reports MedlinePlus. Cancer growth in the lungs may be treated with drug therapy, surgery or radiation treatment to help improve lung function.
Stage IVB
Stage IVB bone cancer describes a bone cancer that has spread to distant organs outside the lung, according to the American Cancer Society. Bone cancer cells may colonize lymph nodes around the affect bone, leading to painful lymph node swelling. Patients with stage IVB bone cancer may also develop other symptoms, depending where the cancer spreads within the body. Stage IVB bone cancer may require aggressive systemic treatment, and doctors may administer chemotherapy or other drug therapies to slow bone cancer growth throughout the body, and try to increase patient's quality of life.
