Bone Cancer Health Video

Bone cancer most often refers to a presence of malignant tumors in bone tissue. Learn about bone cancer and treatment options in this video.

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About this Author

Dr. Susan McGladdery is a medical graduate from Oxford University in the UK and has a Master's Degree in Medical Sciences from Cambridge University. She has been a member of the Royal College of Physicians since 1991 and a member of the American Academy of Urgent Care since 2006. She trained as a Family Physician in the UK in Oxford and then in London. In a medical career that spans over 20 years, she has worked as a doctor in 5 countries on 3 continents and cared for patients from a multitude of different nationalities and backgrounds. Dr. McGladdery joined FirstMed Centers in mid 2002 and became Regional Medical Director in 2003.

SUSAN MCGLADDERY: My name is Dr. Sue McGladerry, I'm the medical director from FirstMed Centers in Budapest, Hungary. I'd like to talk to you about bone cancers. Cancer that originates in the bone or primary bone cancer is rare. Less than 2500 Americans are diagnosed with this type of cancer each year. It occurs in children more than it does in adults. The most common forms of primary bone cancer are osteosarcoma, this is something which occurs primarily in growing bone tissue; a Ewing sarcoma, this also occurs also primarily in immature tissue in the bone marrow. These two cancers most often occur in adolescence or young adults between the ages of ten and twenty. Another form of primary bone cancer is chondrosarcoma. This occurs in the cartilage and is most common in adults over the age of fifty. What is it that causes bone cancer? Well, mostly we don't know but sometimes it may be due to genetic factors or induced by radiation. What are the symptoms of bone cancer? Pain is the most common symptom. Bone cancer can arise in any bones but most frequently it occurs in the long bones of the arms and the legs. The other possible symptoms and signs of bone cancer include weakened bones, sometimes leading to a pathological fracture. There may be joint swelling and tenderness especially for tumors that are near the joints. There may also be fatigue, fever, or unexplained weight loss. There may also be signs of anemia. How do we diagnose these problems? We need to make tests such as x-rays, CT scans, ultrasounds, or MRI scans. Other tests that may be required include a bone scan or ever an examination of the tissue sample from that suspicious area. The treatment of the bone cancer depends on the type of bone cancer as well as its location, the size, and the stage or how far it spread. If you developed any worrying symptoms such as unexplained bone pain, you do need to see your doctor. Having a bone pain doesn't necessarily mean that you have cancer. Much more likely, it's due to an injury or arthritis but it's much safer to let your doctor decide what the next step should be.

Bone Cancer Health Video

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