Bone Cancer
June 11th, 2008 Posted by: admin
Bone: Your body has 206 bones, that serve multiple different functions:
- - they provide structure to the body and help provide its shape. Muscles attach to the bones and allow you to move. Without the bones you would be unable to stand, walk, or move.
- - the bones help to protect the more fragile organs of the body.
e.g.: the bones of the skull protect the brain
the vertebrae of the spine protect the spinal cord
the ribs protect the heart and lungs - - the bones contain bone marrow, which makes and stores new blood cells.
- - the bones help control your body’s collection of various proteins and nutrients including calcium and phosphorus
Cancer: Cancer occurs when the normal control on the number of cells is lost and the cells begin to grow and divide out of control. The cells also become abnormal and have altered functions in patients with cancer.
There are many different type of cancer. The cancer is usually named based on the type of cell that is affected.
e.g.: lung cancer is caused by out of control cells that form the lungs
breast cancer by cells that form the breast.
Tumor = a collection of abnormal cells grouped together.
Not all tumors are cancerous. A tumor can be benign (not cancerous) or malignant (cancerous). Benign tumors are usually less dangerous and are not able to spread to other parts of the body. Malignant tumors are usually more serious and can spread to other areas in the body.
Metastasis = the ability of cancer cells to leave their initial location and move to another location in the body.
Bone cancer
Cancer that starts in a bone is rare. Cancer that has spread to the bone from another part of the body is more common.
Types: There are three types of bone cancer:
- Osteosarcoma - develops in growing bones, usually between ages 10 and 25
- Chondrosarcoma - starts in cartilage, usually after age 50
- Ewing’s sarcoma - begins in nerve tissue in bone marrow of young people, often after treatment of another condition with radiation or chemotherapy
Symptoms: The most common symptom of bone cancer is pain. Other symptoms may vary depending on the location and size of the cancer.
Risk factors: Inherited genes
Retinoblastoma - a rare eye cancer of children. Children with this inherited form of retinoblastoma also have an increased risk for developing osteosarcoma.
Paget disease – a benign, precancerous formation of bone tissue.
Multiple exostoses - an inherited condition sometimes called multiple osteochondromas that causes many bumps on a person’s bones (these can be painful and cause bones to deform and/or fracture)
Radiation
Bone marrow transplantation – in the cases of bone marrow transplantations (with stem cells; or hematopoietic cells derived from embryonic stem cells)
Injuries: this has never been proven, but people still wonder about it.
Diagnose: The doctor can make a diagnose based on the symptoms that the patient is describing and by doing some of the following tests:
Imaging Tests: X-rays
Computed tomography (CT)
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
Chest x-ray
Radionuclide bone scan
Positron emission tomography (PET/PET scan):
Biopsy : A biopsy (tissue sample) of the tumor or cancerous area must be taken for study under a microscope to confirm that the diagnosis is cancer and not some other bone disease.
Types of biopsy:
- Needle Biopsy
- Surgical bone biopsy
The best strategy for early diagnosis is prompt attention to the signs and symptoms of this disease.
Treatment: Surgery is often the main treatment for bone cancer. Other treatments may include amputation, chemotherapy and radiation.
Prevention : Changes in lifestyle can help prevent many types of cancer. At present, however, there are no known lifestyle changes that can prevent bone cancers.