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Bone Cancer - Overview & It's Types

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Bone cancer, or bone sarcoma, is a rare cancer that occurs when the healthy cells in a bone undergo unwanted changes. This uncontrolled growth of bones leads to the formation of tumors.

High-grade osteosarcoma is highly aggressive when it comes to growth and is a malignant primary cancer. This type of osteosarcoma is marked by its fast growth rate and the ability to metastasize to other organs in the body.

What is Bone Cancer/Bone Tumor?

Bone cancer implies the uncontrolled growth of malignant tumors in the bones tissues. In simple words, the answer to the question, “What is bone cancer?” is that it is a cancer of the bones. Cancer can affect any age group; however, some cancer types are common among kids and young adults, while others are prevalent among adults. Also, the types of bone tumors are characterized by their own symptoms and treatments required.

How Common is Bone Cancer?

Bone cancer is a rare cancer type as compared to other forms of cancer. However, it can affect people of any age group. For example, Ewing Sarcoma affects mostly young adults, while chondrosarcoma commonly affects older adults.

Where does Bone Cancer Usually Start?

Bone cancer can start in any bone of the body, but it usually affects the long bones in the legs, arms, and pelvis. Also, the location of the cancer depends on the bone cancer type affecting the bone. For example, while osteosarcoma affects the thighbone, upper arm bone, or shinbone, Chordoma initiates in the bone cartilage.

What are the Different Bone Cancer Types?

Bone tumor classification is based on the source of origination of the cancerous cells. There are two types of bone tumors: primary bone cancer and secondary bone cancer. Primary bone cancers are the ones that start in the bone tissues themselves, and secondary bone cancer, also known as metastasis bone cancer, spreads to the bone from other body parts.

What are the Different Bone Cancer Types?

Bone tumor classification is based on the source of origination of the cancerous cells. There are two types of bone tumors: primary bone cancer and secondary bone cancer. Primary bone cancers are the ones that start in the bone tissues themselves, and secondary bone cancer, also known as metastasis bone cancer, spreads to the bone from other body parts.

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Types of Primary Bone Cancer

Osteosarcoma

Osteosarcoma cancer is an aggressive primary bone cancer that starts in the bone tissue. It is also one of the most common bone cancer types. The cancer is commonly found in young adults and kids and affects the long bones, such as those of the arms and legs.

Low-grade Osteosarcoma

Low-grade osteosarcoma is a rare sub-type of osteosarcoma cancer that is marked by a slow growth rate. This type of cancer affects people who are in their 20s mainly and usually initiates in the long bones, such as those of the arms and legs. However, it may also start in the skull, jawline, or pelvis.

Intermediate-grade Osteosarcoma

As the name suggests, an osteosarcoma that lies between low-grade and high-grade osteosarcoma cancer when it comes to aggressiveness is known as an intermediate-grade osteosarcoma. This cancer portrays a moderate level of aggressiveness in its growth, as it is neither slow-growing like low-grade osteosarcoma nor fast-growing like high-grade osteosarcoma.

High-grade Osteosarcoma

High-grade osteosarcoma is highly aggressive when it comes to growth and is a malignant primary cancer. This type of osteosarcoma is marked by its fast growth rate and the ability to metastasize to other organs in the body.

Chondrosarcoma

Chondrosarcoma is a primary bone cancer that starts in the bone cartilage cells. Cartilage is a connective tissue that is responsible for cushioning the ends of the bones. This type of bone cancer is usually found in the bones that contain cartilage, such as femur, pelvis, etc.

Ewing tumor

Ewing tumor, or Ewing sarcoma, is a bone cancer type that affects the soft tissues and bones. Found commonly among kids between the ages of 10 and 20, this cancer type usually affects the bones in the arms, legs, and pelvis.

Chordoma

Chordoma is a bone cancer type that originates in the notochord. The notochord is a tissue responsible for forming the spine in the embryo. As this cancer is located near the spinal cord, it becomes quite difficult to treat it.



Other Types of Bone Cancer

Here are other types of bone cancer:

Multiple myeloma

Multiple myeloma is a cancer that affects plasma cells, which are a kind of white blood cell found mostly in the bone marrow. Uncontrolled growth of these plasma cells can lead to issues such as bone cancer, anemia, and other bone infections.

Leukemia

Leukemia is a cancer that initiates in the blood-forming tissues, for example, the bone marrow. When leukemia spreads to the bones, it can result in secondary bone cancer.

Non-Hodgkin lymphoma

Non-Hodgkin lymphoma is a cancer that starts in the lymphatic system of the body. Again, when non-Hodgkin lymphoma metastasizes to the bone, it can result in secondary bone cancer.



What are the Different Bone Cancer Stages?


Bone tumor classification into stages assists doctors in understanding the extent of cancer spread in the body, designing an effective treatment, and also predicting the likely prognosis. Here are different bone cancer stages:


Stage 1

Stage 1 is known to be an early-stage bone cancer in which the bone tumor is very small and has not spread at all to the neighboring lymph nodes or other parts of the body.

Stage 2

Stag 2 is a little more advanced than stage 1, and at this point, the tumor is a little larger. Also, the symptoms at this stage are similar to those of early-stage bone cancer, but they are more severe.

Stage 3

Stage 3 comes under the final stages of bone cancer, and at this point, the cancer has spread to the lymph nodes and other body parts. Also, the symptoms at this stage are much more severe than in the early two stages.

Stage 4

Stage 4 is among the most advanced final stages of bone cancer and the cancer at this stage has already spread to other vital organs, such as lungs, liver, etc.

Conclusion

Bone cancer is a rare yet serious type of cancer that can affect all genders and age groups alike. Some of the most common types of bone cancer include osteosarcoma, Ewing Sarcoma, and chondrosarcoma. Since an early diagnosis always helps increase the survival rate of cancer, it is advisable to go for regular checkups in case there is any emergence of symptoms.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which bone cancer is most common?

Osteosarcoma is the most common type of bone cancer and occurs mostly in the long bones of the arms and legs.

Bone cancer is a serious disease, but its severity depends upon factors, such as the bone cancer stage, the type of bone cancer, and the extent of its spread in the body.

The growth rate of bone cancer depends on the type of cancer and the patient's overall health. For example, while osteosarcoma is a fast-growing cancer, chondrosarcoma is a slow-growing cancer.

Bone cancer can stop spreading, but many factors come into play. These factors include the type of cancer, the cancer stage, and the patient's age and health.

Currently, there are no proven methods to prevent bone cancer. Nevertheless, early detection increases the chances of a successful treatment; thus, those with known risk factors should see their doctor on a frequent basis to review their personal risk of developing bone cancer.

Bone cancers are treatable. Be it early-stage or advanced-stage bone cancers, there are multiple treatment options available that not only manage the disease effectively but also help patients have a better quality of life after the treatment.

We also have more advanced and patient-centric treatment approaches, such as organ preservation surgeries that remove only the tumor while leaving the entire bone structure intact. These approaches support the overall wellbeing of the patients after the treatment. Nevertheless, for any cancer to be treated at its best, it has to be detected in its early stages. Therefore, no symptom should be ignored, and any symptom that lasts for more than two weeks should be brought to the physician’s attention.

Any abnormal development from or in the bone, whether benign or malignant, is referred to as a bone tumor, and a malignant bone tumor is referred to as bone cancer.

Metastatic bone cancers or secondary bone cancers may need a multimodal treatment approach. However, before planning the treatment for secondary bone cancers, various factors such as the type of bone cancer, the extent of metastasis, previous treatments, the goal of the treatment (cure or symptom relief), and other factors are considered. Various treatment options available for secondary bone cancers include chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and stem cell transplantation.