Bone cancer can be primary or secondary, with primary cancer starting in the bone and secondary cancer spreading from elsewhere in the body. There are several types of primary bone cancer, including osteosarcoma, chondrosarcoma, Ewing’s sarcoma, and chordomas. Symptoms include pain and swelling in the affected area. Risk factors include genetics, previous bone tumors or diseases, and previous radiation or chemotherapy treatment.
Bone cancer is abnormal cell growth that occurs in bones. There are two main forms: Primary cancer starts within the bone itself and is quite rare, while secondary cancer is caused by cancer elsewhere in the body that spreads to the bones. It should not be confused with leukemia, which is cancer of the bone marrow.
In the body, old cells are constantly being broken down and replaced with new ones. If there is an abnormality in the new cell, causing it to grow and replicate much faster than normal, cancer can develop. There are both benign and malignant tumors growing in the cells. Benign tumors are not cancerous and will not spread to other tissue, while malignant ones will. Benign tumors can often be removed by surgery.
There are several types of primary bone cancer, named according to the type of bone cell that has the cancer and the area of the bone or surrounding tissue in which it is found. Each type has different characteristics and is treated differently. Malignant tumors are commonly called sarcomas.
The most common type of bone cancer is osteosarcoma, which starts in cells that are developing new bone tissue. It is most commonly found in the knees, arms or pelvis. This form of cancer often develops in young people under the age of 30, more in boys than in girls. It is rare in middle age and has a very low incidence in adults in their 60s and 70s. Osteocarcoma usually spreads to other parts of the body, especially the lungs.
Chondrosarcoma is the second most common type and starts in the cartilage cells, so it can develop anywhere this tissue is found. In most cases, this is a slow-growing cancer, so it’s unlikely to spread to other parts of the body before being treated. Chondrosarcoma is rare in young people, but the risk increases from age 20 to about age 75. Men and women have an equal chance of developing it.
The third most common type of primary bone cancer is Ewing’s sarcoma. This form tends to start within the sockets of the bones, especially the legs, pelvis and chest wall, but can grow into other tissues. It is most common in children and adults under the age of 30. Cancer grows very quickly, allowing it to spread to other organs and tissues throughout the body.
Chordomas are found at the base of the skull or in the vertebrae that make up the spine. This type of cancer tends to be slow growing, but if not treated carefully and completely removed, it will return to the same area repeatedly. It’s rare in people under 30, and men are about twice as likely to develop it as women.
There is no single factor that can be said to cause bone cancer. While tumors are often diagnosed after an injury to a bone, the injury is not the cause, just an indicator. There are several risk factors for developing this form of cancer, including having a genetic predisposition for it, having had benign bone tumors or noncancerous bone diseases, and having had previous radiation or chemotherapy treatment, especially when young. Some people will develop primary cancers without having any of these risk factors.
The most common symptom is pain in the affected area. Initially, the pain may be intermittent, but as the tumor grows, it will get worse and occur more often. Swelling can occur around the cancer, usually weeks after the pain begins. Because of the location of the tumor, it is often difficult to feel a true lump. Detecting this tumor is not easy and is often diagnosed through a biopsy of the painful area.
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