Do you have a lump in your bone? Or do you have a pain that gets worse every day and wakes you up at night? You might think it's just a sprain , a bruise, or "growing pains." But sometimes these things can be a sign of something more serious, like bone cancer. It's normal to feel scared when you hear the word "cancer." But don't worry. Let's talk about everything in simple terms, one by one.
What exactly is Bone Cancer?
Simply put, "bone cancer" is a general term for several different types of cancer that start in our bones. When cancer cells start to grow in one of our bones, those cells gradually begin to destroy healthy bone tissue. Although these cancers can develop in any bone in the body, they are most commonly found in the thigh bone, shin bone, or upper arm bones.
There's something important we need to understand here: There are two types of cancer.
1. Primary Bone Cancers: These are cancers that actually start in the bones. This is why we also call them `(Bone Sarcomas)`.
2. Metastases: This is a little different. Imagine a cancer in the breast, prostate, or lungs, and its cells travel through the blood to the bones and start growing there. It's like a problem in another house coming to our house. We call this "bony metastases." In fact, most of the cancers seen in the bones are cancers that have come from other places.
Bone cancer is not something we should take lightly, and it is a condition that requires prompt treatment. But the good news is that today, doctors can control and, in some cases, completely cure these cancers.
What are the main types of bone cancer?
There are three main types of primary bone cancer. These are classified based on the type of cell and tissue the cancer starts in. Let's take a look at what they are.
| Type of Cancer | To put it simply... |
|---|---|
| Osteosarcoma | This is the most common type of bone cancer. It starts in the cells that make new bone tissue. It is most common in teenagers and young adults . But it can also develop in children and young adults. |
| Ewing Sarcoma | This cancer can develop in the bones as well as the soft tissues around them. It is also most common in children and teenagers . |
| Chondrosarcoma | These cancers start in cartilage, the soft tissue that helps our joints and bones move. This type is most common in adults . |
In addition to these three main types, there are several other, very rare types of bone cancer:
- Chordoma: These form in the spine or at the base of the skull.
- Fibrosarcoma: Starts in the fibrous connective tissue at the ends of bones.
- Giant cell tumors: These are actually non-cancerous (benign) tumors, but they can very rarely become cancerous.
- Undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma: This is a type of rapidly spreading cancer that begins in soft tissues and bones.
Is bone cancer common?
No. Bone cancer is actually very rare . It accounts for less than 1% of all cancers reported worldwide. Although it can occur at any age, it is more common in children, teenagers, and young adults than in adults.
The important thing is that if you develop a lump on your bone, it is most likely a benign lump, which is not cancerous. These benign lumps do not spread throughout the body like cancer.
Be aware of these symptoms.
Some people with bone cancer may not have any symptoms other than a painless lump. But others may have a variety of symptoms. Sometimes these symptoms can be confused with other conditions, such as "growing pains," sports injuries, or arthritis. This can delay diagnosis.
Here are the most common symptoms of bone cancer:
| Symptom | A description about it |
|---|---|
| Bone pain | A pain that gradually increases and is constant. The pain is especially severe at night . Some people may feel a tingling sensation or a sharp pain in the bone. |
| A lump or swelling | You may feel a lump in your hand where the pain is. You may also notice swelling for no apparent reason. |
| Difficulty moving | If the swelling is near a joint, it may be difficult to bend or straighten that joint. |
| Other features | Unexplained fatigue, body aches, and a fever. |
Why does this bone cancer develop? What are the risk factors?
Experts still don't know the exact cause of bone cancer. But like other cancers, it's caused by a problem with the DNA, the control system in our cells. The cells then divide and multiply uncontrollably, forming a lump (tumor). If left untreated, these cancer cells can spread to other parts of the body.
Researchers have found links between bone cancer and several other factors. These are called risk factors.
- Previous cancer treatment: If you have received radiation therapy or certain chemotherapy drugs as treatment for another cancer, your risk of developing bone cancer in the future may be slightly increased.
- Genetic factors: Some very rare, inherited genetic conditions (for example, Li-Fraumeni syndrome) may increase the risk of bone cancer.
- Other non-cancerous bone diseases: Some non-cancerous bone conditions, for example, Paget disease of the bone, can very rarely turn into cancer.
But remember, most people who develop bone cancer have no known risk factors . This means it often occurs for no apparent reason.
How does a doctor find this?
If you suspect you have bone cancer, your doctor will first take an X-ray to look at your bones. Then, they may order an MRI or CT scan to get clearer, more detailed images of the tissues around your bones.
To confirm the disease, a biopsy is definitely necessary. This involves taking a very small piece of tissue from the lump and examining it under a microscope. The biopsy can provide a lot of important information, such as the type of cancer and how fast it is spreading. Based on this information, the doctor will decide what treatment is best for you.
How is the staging of cancer determined?
Cancer staging is a method used to determine whether the cancer is localized or has spread throughout the body. It also looks at how different the cancer cells are from normal cells (grade). This can give an idea of how fast the cancer is spreading. There are two main methods used to determine the stage of bone cancer.
| Cancer staging classification (AJCC System) | |
|---|---|
| Stage | Meaning |
| Stage 1 | The cancer is low-grade and has not spread. |
| Stage 2 | The cancer hasn't spread, but it's high-grade, which means it can spread quickly. |
| Stage 3 | The cancer is high-grade and has spread to other parts of the bone where it started. |
| Stage 4 | The cancer has spread beyond the bone to other parts of the body, such as the lungs or liver. |
What are the treatments for this?
The main treatment for bone cancer is to completely remove the cancerous lump through surgery.
- Surgery: With modern technology, limb-sparing surgery is often performed. In this procedure, the surgeon removes only the cancerous tumor and a small amount of healthy tissue around it. The bone is then replaced with an artificial bone graft or a real bone graft from another part of the body.
However, in some cases, an entire arm or leg must be removed to control the cancer. In that case, a prosthetic arm or leg is fitted after surgery. Today's prosthetics are very advanced. As a result, many people are able to live a normal life, just as they did before the surgery.
In addition to surgery, there are other treatment options.
- Radiation Therapy: This uses high-energy rays to destroy cancer cells. This treatment is used to shrink the tumor before surgery or to destroy any remaining cancer cells after surgery.
- Chemotherapy: This involves injecting powerful drugs into the body that kill cancer cells. This treatment is very important before surgery to control the spread of cancer, and after surgery to kill any remaining cancer cells in the body and prevent the cancer from coming back.
What happens after treatment? How long will it take to recover?
Most of the time, the pain caused by cancer will subside quickly after treatment begins. However, treatment can have some side effects, and it can take some time to heal.
It takes about six months of physical therapy to get used to a prosthetic limb. Even with amputation, it can take about a year to fully adjust to the newly created bone.
In fact, the time it takes for you to recover depends on the type of cancer, the stage, and the treatment you receive. Your doctor will explain all of this to you.
Treatment for bone cancer is often successful. In most cases, the cancer does not come back. However, it may require more than one surgery.
People with some types of cancer that spread quickly may need to continue receiving radiation or chemotherapy to control the cancer. So not everyone's experience is the same. Your doctor will explain to you what the prognosis is based on your situation.
Can this be prevented? When should I see a doctor?
Since the exact cause of bone cancer is unknown, there is currently no way to prevent it.
But the most important thing you can do is to see a doctor right away if you notice any unusual changes in your bones, such as a new lump, swelling, or persistent pain. Especially if your child has a lump or swelling, you should definitely show it to a doctor. Just because it has these symptoms doesn't mean it's cancer. But only a doctor can find out exactly what's causing it.
Even after treatment, you should definitely go to the clinics (follow-up appointments) on the days prescribed by the doctor. You will need to go about every three months for the first two years. This will allow you to identify the cancer early and start treatment if it recurs.
Take-Home Message
- If you or your child has persistent pain, swelling, or a lump in one of their bones, don't ignore it as "just a little something." See a doctor right away.
- Bone cancer is a very rare disease. Not every lump that forms on a bone is cancer.
- Although this disease is serious, if diagnosed early and proper treatment is initiated , it can often be successfully controlled and cured.
- Today, there are very advanced and successful treatment methods such as surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy.
- It's normal to feel scared when you find out you have cancer. But you're not alone. Talk openly with your doctor about your concerns and fears.
💬 අදහස් (0)
තවමත් කිසිදු අදහසක් පළ කර නොමැත. ඔබේ අදහස පළමු වරට මෙහි එක් කරන්න.
ඔබේ අදහස එක් කරන්න