Bone Cancer

Overview

Bone cancer is a rare type of cancer that develops in any bone in the body. It commonly affects the long bones and pelvis. There are a few types of bone cancer, such as osteosarcoma, chondrosarcoma and Ewing sarcoma.

Signs and Symptoms

Persistent or worsening bone pain, Redness of the overlying skin, Swelling over a bone making joint movement difficult, Weakened bones which fracture easily, Unintended weight loss, Fatigue

Common Causes

Previous radiotherapy treatment or other exposure to high doses of radiation, Other non-cancerous bone conditions such as Paget's disease of the bone and Ollier's disease, History of other types of cancer such as breast cancer and prostate cancer, Rare genetic conditions such as Li-Fraumeni syndrome, History of other conditions such as retinoblastoma and umbilical hernia, People below the age of 20 and above the age of 40

Risk Factors

Previous radiotherapy treatment or other exposure to high doses of radiation, Other non-cancerous bone conditions such as Paget's disease of the bone and Ollier's disease, History of other types of cancer such as breast cancer and prostate cancer, Rare genetic conditions such as Li-Fraumeni syndrome, History of other conditions such as retinoblastoma and umbilical hernia, People below the age of 20 and above the age of 40

Investigation Techniques

Medical history, Physical examination, X-rays, Biopsy such as core needle biopsy, bone marrow biopsy and open biopsy, Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the affected area, Computerised tomography (CT) scan of the affected area, Positron emission tomography (PET) scan, Bone scan

Treatment and Prevention

Surgery such as amputation, limb-sparing surgery, knee joint replacement or hip joint replacement, Radiation therapy, Chemotherapy, Immunomodulators such as Mifamurtide, Physiotherapy, Occupational therapy, Palliative care