Overview of Bone Cancer

There are several types of bone cancer:

• Primary bone cancers are rare and affect children in preference to adults. They generally occur in the bones of the legs close to the knee joint.
• Secondary bone cancer which is also known as metastatic bone cancer originate in other areas of the body and spread to the bones, most commonly in the ribs, pelvis, skull and spine.
• Bone marrow cancer which is also known as leukaemia occurs when cancerous white blood cells multiply uncontrollably and rapidly within the bone marrow.

Secondary bone cancers are the most common type however the incidence of leukaemia has risen over the last decade.

Risk Factors of Bone Cancer

The causes of bone cancer remain unknown however the primary type is a lot more common in children and adolescents and it thought to have a genetic factor. Secondary bone cancer is a lot more common than the primary type and seems to affect the elderly in preference to other age groups as they are more likely to have cancer elsewhere in the body.

Most cases of leukaemia have no known cause however there are a number of factors that have been found to increase the risk of developing the disorder. For example, previous exposure to high levels of radiation, such as from radiotherapy, or exposure to some anticancer drugs may increase the future risk of leukaemia. Also certain chromosomal abnormalities such as Down’s syndrome also seem to have an increased risk of leukaemia development.

Signs and Symptoms of Bone Cancer

For primary and secondary bone cancer, early symptoms include:

• Gnawing bone pain that frequently becomes worse during the night hours.
• Swelling of the affected area.
• Tenderness around the affected area.

In addition, an advanced bone cancer symptom involves the easy fracture of the affected bones, even following minor injury.

Leukaemia symptoms occur rapidly and are mostly due to the abnormal white cells overcrowding the bone marrow and stopping normal blood cells, both red and white, from being produced. The symptoms develop quickly and include:

• Tiredness, pale skin and shortness of breath because of anaemia.
• Easy bruising and excessive bleeding, especially from the gums.
• Swelling in the neck, armpit area and groin because of enlarged lymph nodes.
• Swelling of the abdomen because of an enlarged liver and spleen.
• Excessive bone pain.

The sufferer will also find that they are more susceptible to infection as well because of a lack of mature non-cancerous white blood cells.

Treatment for Bone Cancer

The type of bone cancer treatment that a sufferer receives will depend on the type of cancer they have. For example:

• Primary bone cancer treatment normally involves surgery to remove the cancerous portion of bone followed by radiotherapy or chemotherapy to destroy any remaining cancerous cells. Artificial bone or bone from elsewhere in the body is used to replace the removed section.
• Secondary bone cancer treatment is often directed at the original cancer site. There may also be a course of chemotherapy, radiotherapy or hormone therapy in order to relieve any bone pain.
• Leukaemia requires chemotherapy to kill the abnormal cells in the bone marrow. The aim is to induce remission rather than cure the disease. Most people also require blood transfusions to boost the number of red blood cells and antibiotics to prevent infections. If a suitable bone marrow donor can be found then a bone marrow transplant is an option although radiotherapy and chemotherapy will still be needed.