What is Bone Cancer?
Bone cancer, also known as bone sarcoma, develops when bone and cartilage cells grow abnormally and uncontrollably. While bone cancer is rare in adults, it is more commonly seen in children, adolescents, and young adults. According to the Singapore Childhood Cancer Registry, bone cancers account for 5.9% of childhood cancers in Singapore.
Signs to Look Out For
Bone cancer commonly presents with these symptoms:
- Pain in the bones and joints, which may worsen at night or during activity
- Swelling over the affected part of the bone
- Stiffness or tenderness in the bone
- Problems with movement such as an unexplained limp
- A fractured bone
- Unexplained weight loss
- Fatigue
While these symptoms can also be caused by other conditions such as arthritis and osteoporosis, do seek medical attention from a healthcare professional if you are experiencing any of these symptoms. Early detection of bone cancer can improve treatment outcomes, so prompt evaluation and diagnosis are crucial.
Risk Factors
While primary bone cancer can affect anyone, certain factors can increase a person’s risk. These include:
- A family history of certain genetic diseases or rare cancers.
- Prior radiation therapy or chemotherapy to treat another cancer. Exposure to radiation increases the risk of primary bone cancer, particularly in those who received treatment at a young age or with a high dose of radiation.
- Paget disease of the bone. This disease mainly affects people aged 50 and over and causes abnormal bone tissue to form, leading to brittle, thick bones that are more likely to fracture.
- Certain types of bone or cartilage tumours. Having a genetic condition that causes bony tissue bumps, benign bone/cartilage tumours can increase a person’s risk of bone cancer.
- Having a bone marrow transplant has sometimes been associated with the development of osteosarcoma.
Treatments
Bone cancer treatment options depend on various factors, including the cancer’s grade, type, location, and size, as well as the patient’s medical history, symptoms, and personal preferences.
Surgery
Surgery is a common treatment option for bone cancer, and the type of surgery depends on the tumour’s location and size. The types of surgery include limb-salvage surgery, amputation, and curettage, which involves scraping out the tumour without removing any sections of bone.
Radiation Therapy
Radiation therapy uses radiation to destroy cancer cells. It can be used before or after surgery or as a palliative treatment for advanced bone cancer. Stereotactic radiation therapy is a specialised form of radiation therapy used to treat metastatic tumours that have spread to the vertebrae in the spine or other bones.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy uses a range of drugs to destroy or slow the growth of bone cancer cells, and the type of drug used depends on the cancer’s type. Chemotherapy treatment takes place over several sessions or cycles and usually takes around three to six months.
