Though a rare occurrence, bone cancer most commonly affects the long bones in the arms and legs or the pelvic area. As the name suggests, this type of cancer happens when a tumor develops in a bone. Cancer in the bones can be aggressive, so early detection is important. To understand how to survive bone cancer, knowing about its types, causes, symptoms, and treatment options will prove to be of great help.

Types of bone cancer
Primary bone cancers originate in the bone and are a subtype of a group of cancers known as sarcomas. Secondary bone cancer can spread from another part of the body to the bones. This type of cancer is more common than primary bone cancer. Some common types of primary bone cancers are listed below.

Osteosarcoma
This type of cancer mainly affects children and young adults and is one of the most common types of primary bone cancer. Osteosarcoma develops in bone cells in the arms, legs, or pelvis.

Chondrosarcoma
Chondrosarcoma primarily affects people aged 50 or above. This type of cancer forms in cartilage tissue and often develops around the pelvis, knees, shoulders, or upper part of the thighs.

Ewing Sarcoma
It is the second most common type of primary bone cancer. Though Ewing tumors typically start in the bones, they may also form in other tissues and muscles. Ewing Sarcoma occurs most frequently in children and teenagers.

Chordoma
It is an uncommon type of bone cancer in the lower part of the spine, also known as the tailbone, mainly affecting older adults.

Causes
The exact cause of bone cancer is yet to be found, but certain aspects, like genetic factors, some bone conditions, and exposure to radiation therapy, can increase your chance of developing bone cancer.

Inherited conditions
People are more likely to get bone cancer if they have a genetic condition passed through families, including Li-Fraumeni syndrome and retinoblastoma.

Certain bone conditions
The risk of bone cancer increases with certain bone conditions such as Paget’s disease of bone. This condition causes the bones to break down and then grow back.

Exposure to radiation therapy
People exposed to radiation treatment for cancers may have an increased risk of developing bone cancer.

Symptoms
In some cases, people with bone cancer don’t experience symptoms other than a painless lump, but in other instances, patients may face bone pain, unexplained swelling, or weakened bones.

Bone pain
One of the most common symptoms of bone cancer is dull or achy pain. This pain occurs in the tumor area and is an ache that comes and goes. It gradually progresses to persistent pain and worsens with activity or at night.

Swelling or lump
There may also be a noticeable lump on or around the affected bone. The lump may cause the affected bone to swell and become tender or stiff. If the bone is near the joint, the patient might experience difficulty in walking or may cause limping. Cancers that form in the neck can lead to difficulty swallowing or breathing.

Weakened bone leading to fractures
In some cases, bone cancer can weaken the bone resulting in fractures even with a minor fall or injury. Some other less common signs of bone cancer include unexplained body mass loss, fatigue, and fever.

Treatment
The treatment of bone cancer depends on various factors, including the stage and grade of cancer, age, overall health, and the size and location of the tumor. The treatment usually involves a combination of various approaches.

Surgery
Surgery will remove the cancerous tumor and a small portion of healthy tissue surrounding it. The affected bone is repaired or rebuilt with real or artificial bone grafts. Amputation may be suggested in cases where cancer has caused extensive bone damage in the arms or legs.

Radiation therapy
Radiation therapy may be suggested in some cases to kill cancer cells. It is often used for a tumor that cannot be removed with surgery. Sometimes high-energy beams are used to shrink the tumor before the surgery, making removing it easier. It may also be done after the surgery to destroy any remaining cancer cells.

Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy involves using prescriptions to kill cancer cells in the body by injecting them into the vein. This treatment works better for some forms of bone cancer, such as osteosarcoma and Ewing sarcoma.

Targeted therapy
Bone cancers that have undergone specific genetic changes are usually treated with targeted therapy. This treatment targets cancer’s specific genes, proteins, or the tissue environment that promote cancer growth and survival. The treatment blocks the growth and spread of cancer cells while limiting damage to healthy cells.

The survival of bone cancer patients depends on the type of cancer and the extent to which it has spread. The long-term survival rate is around 70 to 75 percent if the disease has not spread to other areas of the body. If it has spread to the lungs or other bones, the long-term survival rate is 30 percent. Therefore, the early the diagnosis, the better the outcomes for bone cancer.