Bone cancer happens when normal cells in the bone change into abnormal cells and grow out of control.
People can also get cancer in their bones after cancer from another part of the body spreads to the bones. This is not called bone cancer. If the cancer started in the lung or breast, it is called metastatic lung cancer or metastatic breast cancer.
There are different types of bone cancer, depending on the cells involved. The most common type is osteosarcoma. Other common types of bone cancer are chondrosarcoma and Ewing sarcoma.
Bone cancer usually causes pain and swelling in the area of the cancer. The pain can come and go, but it usually gets worse over weeks to months. The pain is sometimes worse at night and with exercise. Some people with bone cancer might also see or feel a lump on their bone or in the tissues around the bone.
All of these symptoms can also be caused by conditions that are not bone cancer. But if you have these symptoms, tell your doctor.
Yes. Your doctor will first order an X-ray of your bone. If the X-ray shows that you might have bone cancer, you will have other tests. These will probably include:
Cancer staging is a way in which doctors find out if a cancer has spread past the layer of tissue where it began, and, if so, how far.
The right treatment for you will depend a lot on the type of bone cancer you have, its stage, and your other medical problems.
Depending on the type of bone cancer, treatment includes one or more of the following:
After treatment, your doctor will check you every so often to see if the cancer comes back. Follow-up tests can include exams, blood tests, chest X-rays, and imaging tests.
After treatment, your doctor will check you every so often to see if the cancer comes back. Follow-up tests can include exams, blood tests, chest X-rays, and imaging tests.
What happens if my bone cancer comes back or spreads? If your bone cancer comes back or spreads, you might have more surgery, radiation, or chemotherapy.
It's important to follow all of your doctor's instructions about visits and tests. It’s also important to talk to your doctor about any side effects or problems you have during treatment.
Getting treated for bone cancer involves making many choices, such as what treatment to have. Always let your doctors know how you feel about a treatment. Any time you are offered a treatment, ask:
Bone Cancers are curable in most instances. Avoid the following as it may affect the outcome in your sarcoma care:
MBBS, DNB (Orthopaedic Surgery), MNAMS (Orthopaedics), Professional Diploma in Clinical Research (PDCR)
Consultant - Orthopaedic Oncology (Orthopaedic Oncology — Bone and Soft Tissue Tumours)