Bone Cancer: Types, Symptoms and Treatment

Primary bone cancer, which is diagnosed in fewer than 2,500 Americans annually, is more common in children than adults.
 
Primary bone cancer originates in the skeletal system. One of the least common forms of cancer, it occurs when a malignant tumor in the bone destroys normal bone tissue. Benign tumors in the bones also occur, and in fact are more common than malignant bone tumors, but they do not spread or pose a threat to bone tissue.
 
A malignant tumor that actually begins in the bone is rare. Usually, cancer originates elsewhere and moves to the bone. This is called metastatic bone cancer. Multiple myeloma is a metastatic cancer.

Multiple Myeloma

Multiple myeloma is cancer that starts in the plasma cells present in bone marrow. The disease got its name from its ability to occur in multiple bone marrow sites throughout the body.
 
In patients with multiple myeloma, cancerous plasma cells multiply, eroding bones and interfering with bone marrow function. This can lead to fractures, and may cause spinal cord compression.

Types of Primary Bone Cancer

Since primary cancer can occur in bone marrow and every type of bone tissue, not all bone cancers manifest themselves in the same way.
  • Osteosarcoma is a cancer that originates in the hard, or osteoid, bone tissue and is most often found in the knees or upper arms. It affects mostly children, since it is usually found in growing bone tissue.

  • Chondrosarcoma originates in cartilage. Cartilage is the cushion padding the ends of bones and lining the joints. Chondrosarcoma primarily starts in the pelvis and most often affects people over 50.

  • Ewing’s sarcoma can occur in bone and immature tissue in bone marrow. Diagnosed mostly in children, it is usually found in the backbone, pelvis, arms and legs.

Bone Cancer Symptoms

Bone cancer symptoms may easily be mistaken for other conditions. Some common bone cancer symptoms include:
  • anemia
  • fatigue
  • fever
  • fractures
  • pain, especially in the long bones of the arms and legs, accompanied by swelling and tenderness.
  • swelling and tenderness in the joints
  • unintended weight loss.
If you experience some or all of these symptoms, you may want to visit a doctor. Since many of the above symptoms are also common indicators of other, less serious conditions, you should avoid making assumptions about your diagnosis without talking to a professional. Most of these symptoms are also indicative of the common cold.

Causes and Risk Factors of Bone Cancer

The most common cause of bone cancer is cancer from other areas of the body metastasizing, or spreading, to the bone. Primary bone cancer, which has no known cause, accounts for less than 1 percent of all cancers. Heredity may play a part in the development of some bone cancers.
 
Prolonged exposure to radiation may be a cause of bone cancer. X-rays do not cause cancer, but heavy doses of radiation – sometimes administered as a treatment for other cancers - can lead to bone cancer.
 
Multiple myeloma also has no definitive causes, but obesity is a known risk factor. The condition affects more men than women, and black men are twice as likely as white men to develop multiple myeloma.

Bone Cancer Treatment

Treatment options for bone cancer depend on the type of cancer. The tumor’s size, shape and location also are among a host of factors that determine the treatment for bone cancer. Some treatment options include:
  • Chemotherapy drugs (except in cases of chondrosarcoma).

  • Cryosurgery - freezes and kills the cancer cells using liquid nitrogen.

  • Radiation therapy - zaps cancerous cells with beams of high-energy particles. While radiation affects healthy cells, it is far more dangerous to the cancerous cells.

  • Surgery - a common treatment for bone cancer, especially if the cancer has not spread. Skilled surgeons can remove the tumor while doing minimal damage to the healthy surrounding tissue.
Since the effectiveness of these treatments vary between cases, follow-up treatment is often necessary. Bone cancer can recur or spread to other regions of the body, so people who have had it should see their doctor regularly.
 
Resources
 
Mayo Clinic. (2007). Bone cancer. Retrieved February 18, 2009, from the Mayo Clinic Web site: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/bone-cancer/DS00520.

Mayo Clinic. (2009). Multiple myeloma. Retrieved February 18, 2009, from the Mayo Clinic Web site: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/multiple-myeloma/DS00415.

National Cancer Institute. (n.d.). Bone cancer: Questions and answers. Retrieved February 18, 2009, from the National Cancer Institute Web site: http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/sites-types/bone.