Tuesday, December 6, 2011

Bone cancer

Cancers are founded in bones are called Bone cancers. It can be discovered in bones in a number of different circumstances. When cancer is located in the bones, it is important to identify whether this cancer has spread from another site to the bones or whether the cancer originated in the bone tissue itself. This distinction is important not only for the sake of correct terminology, but also to accurately determine which treatment options are appropriate.

We know that there are more than 100 types of cancer, and each cancer type is named for the tissue in which it begins. When cancer cells spread, they may travel via the lymphatic channels to lymph nodes, or they may enter the bloodstream and travel to other organs or locations in the body that are distant from the site of the original, or primary, tumor. It is not unusual for cancers that originate in other parts of the body to spread to the bones and begin growing there.

Certain types of cancers are particularly likely to spread to the bones. Cancers that commonly metastasize, or spread, to the bones include breast cancer, lung cancer, thyroid cancer, prostate cancer, and cancers of the kidney. It is important to note that when these other types of cancer spread to the bone, but they are named by the tissue or organ where they arose. Breast cancer spread due to bone but it is called Breast cancer not bone cancer.

In contrast to cancers which have spread to the bone, true bone cancers are tumors that arise from the tissues of the bones. These cancers, called primary bone cancers, are quite rare in comparison to cancers that have spread to the bones.  The bone cancer affects over two thousand people in the United States every year. It is found most in the bones of the arms and legs, but it can occur in any bone. Children and young people are more likely than adults to develop bone cancer.

Symptoms of Bone Cancer
1. It tend to develop slowly

2. It is depend on the type, location, and size of the tumor.

3. Pain is the most frequent symptom of bone cancer, but sometimes a lump on the bone can be felt through the skin.

Treatment of Bone Cancer:
The  treatment of bone cancer depend upon the size, location, stage of the cancer, age and health conditions of the patient. The treatment for bone cancer includes various methods such as surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy and cryosurgery.
 
Radiation Therapy: It involves the usage of high energy X-rays to destroy the cancerous cells. This treatment option may be used along with surgery.

Cryosurgery: This is a type of treatment which involves usage of liquid nitrogen to freeze and destroy cancerous cells.

Surgery: it is the one of the most common method of treatment for bone cancer. This surgery is performed in order to remove the entire tumour inside the bone with negative margins. The surgeon aims at removing the tumour with minimizing the removal of the healthy tissues.

Cause of Bone Cancer: While bone cancer does not have a clearly defined cause, researchers have identified several factors that increase the possibility of developing these tumors. A small number of bone cancers are due to heredity.