Bone Cancer

Overview

The malignancy in the bone is described as Bone cancer.

Cancer that originates in the bone is termed as primary bone cancer. This type of cancer is very rare.

The most common forms of Primary bone cancer are Osteosarcoma, which occurs primarily in growing bone tissue called Ewing’s sarcoma.

This occurs primarily in immature tissue in bone marrow (Bone Marrow Cancer) and Chondrosarcoma is another type which occurs in the cartilage. The former type is most common among children.

More often, cancer cells spread metastasize to the bones from other parts of the body such as the breasts, lungs, and prostate. The Bone Tumors in majority is classified into Primary tumors and Secondary tumors.

Primary tumors

This type of tumors called Primary bone tumors are very rare almost less than 1% of all malignant tumors which occur and also studies reveal that they are most common in young men. The four most common types of primary bone tumors are:

  • Multiple Myeloma
  • Osteoclastoma
  • Fibrosarcoma
  • Osteosarcoma
  • Chondrosarcoma
  • Ewing’s sarcoma

Secondary or Metastatic Tumors

Secondary or Metastatic tumors can be further subdivided into:

The most common tumors which account for bone metastases are breast cancer, lung cancer, and prostate cancer. Tumors may either result from contiguous spread of adjacent soft tissue neoplasm’s and also may represent malignant transformation of the pre-existing benign lesions. Secondary or Metastatic tumors more frequently involve the axial skeleton than the appendicular skeleton.

Secondary Bone Cancer

As discussed above Secondary bone cancer is a cancer that has spread, or metastasized, from a primary cancer in another part of the body to the bones. This type is more common than primary bone cancer, which is cancer that originates in the bones themselves.

The most common primary cancers that metastasize to the bones are breast, lung, and prostate, and the bones which are most commonly affected in this process are the spine, ribs, pelvis, skull, and the upper bones of the arms and legs.

Bone Cancer and Secondary Bone Cancer Prognosis

Bone Cancer and Secondary Bone Cancer Prognosis is the chance of recovery of the patient from the disease. The doctor is the best to predict the prognosis of the patient as he or she analysis the test scan and biopsy reports. The prognosis of the secondary bone cancer will depend on where the cancer has spread from or metastasize from.

The fact is that cancer cannot be completely cured but definitely can be controlled by proper treatment. Early detection is the best cure, this type of cancer can be treated well when detected at an early stage so the prognosis rate is good in such cases.

Bone Cancer Survival Rate

The survival rate depends on the type of bone cancer i.e. primary bone cancer or secondary bone cancer, stage of the cancer, the rate of progress of the cancer and the response treatment, age of the patient and other factors. (Bone Cancer Treatments)

Unfortunately some cases of bone cancer respond well to the treatment and some don’t. At times people with secondary bone cancer are also able to survive for many years with proper diet and occasional treatment. But in some cases people are diagnaosed very late to find the survival rate is too low for them and only a short life span is ahead.