BONE CANCER
Cancer can occur in any type of bone tissue just as well as a primary type of cancer or it can be an indicator that another form of cancer is located in the body and has spread to the bones. “Several cancers, both solid tumors and hematopoietic malignancies, have profound effects upon the skeleton, causing an increase in osteoclast formation and activity, either systematically as in humoral hypercalcemia of malignancy (HHM) or locally in bone metastases” (Rodan & Martin, 2000, p. 1509). In order to grow bone as metastases tumor cells need to have the ability to develop osteoclast. Bone cancer is most common to be a malignant tumor that destroys normal bone tissue of the bone. Primary bone cancer is when malignant tumors begin in the bone tissue. When cancer spreads to the bones from other parts of the body, such as the lungs, breasts, or prostate this is called metastatic cancer.
According to Rodan & Martin (2000),
Another important element in the successful seeding of bone metastases of breast cancer cells is the part played by the
bone microenvironment. The release of growth factors can influence the growth of tumor cells and their production of
bone-resorbing cytokines. Prostate cancers, which metastasize very commonly to bone, are increasingly recognized as
having an accompanying osteoclast component, presumably to facilitate their establishment and expansion. (p. 1509)
The three most common types of bone cancers are osteosarcoma, chondrosarcoma, and the Ewing Sarcoma Family of Tumors (ESFTs). Osteosarcoma occurs in the upper arm and in the knee. Chondrosarcoma occurs in the shoulder, pelvis and upper leg and sometimes has cancerous bone cells. Although bone cancer has not been identified with a definite cause researchers have found factors that increase the likelihood of how these tumors may be developed. According to the National Cancer Institute (2003), osteosarcoma occurs more frequently in people who have had high-dose external radiation therapy or treatment with certain anticancer drugs; children seem to be particularly susceptible.
Unfortunately some bone cancers are due to hereditary. Primary bone cancer is rare but it accounts for less than 1% of all
cancers. The most common symptom of bone cancer is pain however, pain in not the cause of all bone cancers. Bone cancer is often diagnosed by the doctor obtaining information from the patient’s personal and family medical history. After the doctor has obtained this information then further examination may be performed on the patient such as an X-ray, a bone scan, a computed tomography (CT or CAT) scan, a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) procedure, a positron emission tomography (PET) scan, or an angiogram. To determine whether cancer is present a biopsy may also be performed on the
patient. As stated by the National Cancer Institute (2003), blood tests are used to determine the level of an enzyme called alkaline phosphatase. There are several treatment options for a patient with bone cancer but they depend on the patient’s age, general health, and stage of the cancer, location, size and type of bone cancer. The treatment options for bone cancer are cryosurgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and surgery which are the usual treatment for bone cancer.
According to Rodan & Martin (2000),
Another important element in the successful seeding of bone metastases of breast cancer cells is the part played by the
bone microenvironment. The release of growth factors can influence the growth of tumor cells and their production of
bone-resorbing cytokines. Prostate cancers, which metastasize very commonly to bone, are increasingly recognized as
having an accompanying osteoclast component, presumably to facilitate their establishment and expansion. (p. 1509)
The three most common types of bone cancers are osteosarcoma, chondrosarcoma, and the Ewing Sarcoma Family of Tumors (ESFTs). Osteosarcoma occurs in the upper arm and in the knee. Chondrosarcoma occurs in the shoulder, pelvis and upper leg and sometimes has cancerous bone cells. Although bone cancer has not been identified with a definite cause researchers have found factors that increase the likelihood of how these tumors may be developed. According to the National Cancer Institute (2003), osteosarcoma occurs more frequently in people who have had high-dose external radiation therapy or treatment with certain anticancer drugs; children seem to be particularly susceptible.
Unfortunately some bone cancers are due to hereditary. Primary bone cancer is rare but it accounts for less than 1% of all
cancers. The most common symptom of bone cancer is pain however, pain in not the cause of all bone cancers. Bone cancer is often diagnosed by the doctor obtaining information from the patient’s personal and family medical history. After the doctor has obtained this information then further examination may be performed on the patient such as an X-ray, a bone scan, a computed tomography (CT or CAT) scan, a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) procedure, a positron emission tomography (PET) scan, or an angiogram. To determine whether cancer is present a biopsy may also be performed on the
patient. As stated by the National Cancer Institute (2003), blood tests are used to determine the level of an enzyme called alkaline phosphatase. There are several treatment options for a patient with bone cancer but they depend on the patient’s age, general health, and stage of the cancer, location, size and type of bone cancer. The treatment options for bone cancer are cryosurgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and surgery which are the usual treatment for bone cancer.