Malignant tumor of bone. Various types can occur. Symptoms include pain and spontaneous fractures; treatment involves surgery and sometimes chemotherapy or radiation therapy.
Cancer that originates in bone tissue. Some cancers can spread to the bones and erroneously are called bone cancer. Also called primary bone cancer, cancer that first develops in bone tissue is uncommon and occurs chiefly in children and adolescents, ages 10 to 25. Cancer can affect any bone, but in adolescence, it typically appears in the long bones of the arms and legs. Bone cancer most often develops in the area around the knee joint. The most common symptom of bone cancer is pain, frequently accompanied by fatigue, fever, weight loss, and anemia. Swelling over a bone can be a sign of bone cancer, particularly if the swelling becomes progressively larger and more tender. Bone cancer can cause bones to fracture.
Any malignancy of bone tissue. Primary bone tumors (e.g., osteosarcomas) are rare in adults; they are seen more often in children and adolescents. Secondary or metastatic bone tumors are far more common. Tumors arising in other areas of the body that metastasize to the bones most often spread from organs such as prostate or breast.
Bone cancer refers to the development of a malignant tumor within the bone. This form of cancer can either originate directly within the bone itself, known as primary bone cancer, or more frequently, it can occur when cancer cells spread from other parts of the body, leading to secondary or metastatic bone cancer.
Cancers originating in the bone are uncommon, with osteosarcoma being the most prevalent type of primary bone cancer. Additional types include chondrosarcoma and fibrosarcoma. It is important to note that cancers arising from the bone marrow are not typically classified as bone cancers. The treatment approach for primary bone cancer depends on the extent of disease progression. When the cancer is localized to the bone, surgical removal of the tumor and the use of a bone graft to replace the defect may be viable options. In more advanced cases, amputation might be recommended. Radiotherapy and chemotherapy, either individually or in combination, may also be necessary components of the treatment plan.
The cancers that exhibit a higher propensity to spread and give rise to secondary bone cancer include breast, lung, prostate, thyroid, and kidney cancers. These metastases commonly occur in the spine, pelvis, ribs, and skull. Pain represents a primary symptom associated with bone metastases. The affected bones become abnormally fragile and prone to fractures. In cases where bone cancer affects the spine, there is a risk of vertebral collapse or compression, which can lead to damage to the spinal cord and result in weakness or paralysis.
Secondary bone cancers originating from the breast and prostate gland have shown potential for positive response to treatment with hormone antagonists. In other instances, localized treatment utilizing radiotherapy has proven to be effective in alleviating pain associated with the tumor.