How Does Bone Cancer Begin?
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Bone cancer is a type of cancer that develops in the bones or affects the bones. Hereditary bone cancers are rare, and most bone cancer is contracted from other cancerous cells in different organs of the body. Bone cancer develops in the same manner as other forms of cancer.
Development
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Bone cancer and other cancers begin when cells in the body begin to grow exponentially. These cancerous cells grow abnormally and, unlike other body cells that are constantly growing to replenish dead cells, the cancerous cells continue to grow even when there are no other cells to replace. Cancer cells grow abnormally shaped and attempting to perform alternate functions, often attacking healthy cells. Bone cancer begins when cells in the bone begin to grow in this fashion, or when cancerous cells from other parts of the body infect the marrow of the bones.
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Types
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There are two main types of bone cancer, those caused by the heredity growth of cancer cells, called primary bone cancers, and those that develop as cancer cells spread from other parts of the body, called secondary bone cancers. Ewing's sarcoma, chordoma, osteosarcoma, fibrosarcoma, and malignant fibrous histiocytoma are examples of the most common bone cancers.
Symptoms
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The most common symptom felt by a person who has bone cancer is pain that becomes more severe over time. Because arthritis affects people in the same way, bone cancer usually goes undiagnosed for years after it develops. At times, bones affected with cancerous tumors will develop lumps inside the bones or around the bones, making the bone cancer more obvious. Bones affected with cancer become weak and are easily broken and fractured.
Diagnosis
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Because bone cancer often goes undiagnosed for years, doctors often schedule X-rays, bone density scans and MRIs for older patients who have experienced radiation treatments or exposure to other things linked to causing cancer. Such exams will be scheduled as well for patients presenting with arthritic symptoms and complaints of ongoing pain. After a tumor is identified, if one is identified, a biopsy sample is usually obtained in order to further examine the cancerous cells and classify the type of bone cancer.
Treatment
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The three main treatments used to rid the body of bone cancer are radiation therapy, surgery and chemotherapy. The radiation treatments will consist of a concentrated radiation ray aimed at the infected bone of the body; radiation treatments are typically given daily for several weeks. Surgical intervention for bone cancer involves the removal of the inner, affected parts of the bone; metal or strong plastics can be grafted in to replace parts of the bones removed. Chemotherapy treatment for bone cancer consists of injections of chemical medicines directly into the bloodstream via a port usually located on the chest.
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