Bones make up a person's skeleton and provide a strong frame for muscles to work against. Bones also protect the body's vital organs. Bone tissue changes constantly. Cancers of the bone usually start in another location and spread to the bone (metastases). Cancers that start in the bone are quite rare.
The most common type of bone cancer is multiple myeloma, which starts in the cells that make up bone marrow. Marrow is the soft fleshy material in the center of the bone. This type of bone cancer is seen mostly in older people.
The second highest number of bone cancers is osteosarcoma, which causes pain and swelling. While these tumors can start anywhere in the body, they usually show up in or around the knee. Often they spread to the lungs. Usually seen in young people 10 to 20 years of age, these tumors can, however, occur at any age.
There are several other types of bone cancer, including those affecting cartilage tissue, arms and legs. Often, bones become cancerous because the disease present in another part of the body has spread. Most likely to spread are breast, lung, prostate, kidney and thyroid cancers.
Pain and swelling of bones and joints is usually the primary sign of the disease. Sometimes, fractures caused by weakened bones are also an indication.
Methods for detecting bone cancer depend on the type and stage of the disease. Options include:
- Biopsy. A small amount of tissue is taken from the bone and examined under the microscope for cancer cells.
- X-rays and bone scans. Standard X-rays and computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) images can help find the size and exact location of the tumor.
- Surgery. The tumor is removed from the affected area of the body, most often the limbs. Today, amputation is very rarely done because of newer and more effective surgical methods are now used.
- Chemotherapy and/or radiation. Anti-cancer drugs may be given at some point in the treatment process as well as high-energy X-rays to destroy or shrink cancerous tissue.
- Cedars-Sinai Institute for Spinal Disorders
- Samuel Oschin Comprehensive Cancer Institute
- Cedars-Sinai Outpatient Cancer Center
- Cedars-Sinai Orthopedic Center
- S. Mark Taper Foundation Imaging Center
