Please advise.
Someone in my family has been diagnosed with Leukemia, 3 years ago. she has undergone chemo and is now ok (thank God!). but, starting abt 4-6 months ago, she started to experience sharp, almost constant pain in what seems to be the leg and hip bones. she also says she feels 1000 needles in her heels/soles.
Now the doctor didn't allow any x-ray or CAT scan (for fear of radiation exposure). Her osteoporosis test from a year ago was fine.
What could this be? I'm worried about bone cancer..since I've heard sometime chemo for one can cause another:(
Definition of Bone Cancer
Cancer that begins in the bone is called primary bone cancer. Primary bone cancer is relatively uncommon in comparison with secondary or metastatic cancer (cancer that occurs initially in another organ and then spreads to bone tissue).
Description of Bone Cancer
The bones in the body serve several purposes. They support and protect internal organs (for example, the skull protects the brain and the ribs protect the lungs). Muscles pull against the bones to make the body move. Bone marrow (the soft, spongy tissue in the center of many bones) makes and stores blood cells.
Cancer that begins is the bone is called primary bone cancer. it is found most often in the arms and legs, but it can occur in any bone in the body. Children and young people are more likely than adults to have bone cancer.
Primary bone cancers are called often called sarcomas. there are several types of sarcoma. Each type begins in a different kind of bone tissue. The most common are osteosarcoma, Ewing's sarcoma and chondrosarcoma.
Osteosarcoma is the most common type of bone cancer in young people. it usually occurs between the ages of 10 and 25. Males are affected more often than females. Osteosarcoma often starts in the ends of bones, where new bone tissue forms as a young person grows. it usually affects the long bones of the arms or legs.
Ewing's sarcoma usually is found in people between 10 and 25 years of age; teenagers are most often affected. This cancer forms in the middle part (shaft) of large bones. it most often affects the hipbones and the long bones in the thigh and upper arm. it also occurs in the ribs.
Chondrosarcoma is found mainly in adults. This type of tumor forms in cartilage, the rubbery tissue around joints.
Cancers that begin in the bone are quite rare. on the other hand, it is not unusual for cancers to spread to the bones from other parts of the body. When this happens, the disease is not called primary bone cancer. Each type of cancer is named for the organ or the tissue in which it begins. Cancer that spreads is the same disease and has the same name as the original (or primary) cancer.
Treatment for cancer that has spread to the bones depends on where the cancer started and the extent of the spread. about 80 percent of these metastatic lesions are from primary carcinomas, particularly of the breast, prostate, lung, kidney, thyroid, pancreas and stomach.
Symptoms of Bone Cancer
Patients may present with persistent pain, swelling, or tenderness of a bone. They may have unexplained fracture of one or more bones, sometimes without noticeable trauma.
Diagnosis of Bone Cancer
The presenting symptom is usually pain. Pathologic fracture may be present and is more common in the lower than the upper extremity.
The presenting radiologic finding on X-ray is often destruction of bone. In a patient with a known primary malignant tumor presenting with a painful, destructive lesion of bone, a diagnosis of metastatic cancer can be made with some assurance. However, there are individuals in whom the primary cancer is not yet recognized at the time when the early metastatic lesion in bone becomes painful.
A CAT scan, MRI, radionuclide bone scan or a skeletal survey may be done to pinpoint which bones have been affected.
Treatment of Bone Cancer
The treatment of cancer of the bone, especially metastatic cancer, has two goals: management of the neoplasm and management of the symptoms produced by the local lesion. Prognosis is affected by a patient's age, the size of the primary tumor, grade and stage, degree of lymphatic and blood vessel invasion, the duration of symptoms and the location of the tumor on the arm, leg or trunk.
There are two ways bone metastasis is treated. Systemic therapy, aimed at cancer cells that have spread throughout the body, includes chemotherapy, hormone therapy, and immunotherapy. Local therapy, aimed at killing cancer cells in one specific part of the body, includes radiation therapy and surgery.
Surgery often has to be extensive, with a wide margin of tissue around the tumor being removed. Sarcomas involving muscles require removal of the entire affected muscle group.
Radiation therapy is used to prevent local recurrences of radiosensitive tumors and may be given either before or after surgery.
Chemotherapy – a number of drugs have proven to be effective in treating bone and soft tissue sarcomas. The dosages required to provide a good chance for cure often produce significant side effects. Effective single agents may include doxorubicin (Adriamycin), cyclophosphamide, high-dose methotrexate (with leucovorin rescue), ifosfamide, dacarbazine, vincristine, dactinomycin (Actinomycin D), etoposide and investigational agents. Combinations of these drugs are often used.
Hormone therapy is either the removal of the organs which produce hormones which can promote the growth of certain types of cancer (such as testosterone in males and estrogen in females), or drug therapy to keep the hormones from promoting cancer growth.
Biphosphonates are drugs that can be used to reduce bone pain and slow down bone damage in people who have cancer that has spread to their bones.
Even if a bone or soft tissue sarcoma is appears to be localized and could apparently be completely removed, there is still significant risk that tumor cells too small to detect have already spread to other places in the body. Additional treatment with chemotherapy (adjuvant chemotherapy) attempts to eliminate these tumor deposits.
There are also safe and effective ways to treat pain. Medications can allow people to be free of pain so that they can continue the activities that are important to them.
Questions To ask Your Doctor about Bone Cancer
Is it primary or secondary cancer of the bone?
Where has it spread from?
Do you recommend chemotherapy?
What is the prognosis?
Hope this helps! <3 good luck hun!
Could be a number of things such as a bad disk in the back or neck.
Bone cancers are rare forms of cancer that can affect any bone in the body. two types of bone cancer are multiple myeloma and bone sarcomas. Bone cancers can also happen when tumors that start in other organs, such as breasts, lung, and prostate, metastasize (spread) to the bone. Multiple myeloma is the most common type of bone cancer. The two most common bone sarcomas are osteosarcoma, which develops in new tissue in growing bones, and chondrosarcoma, which
develops in cartilage. Osteosarcoma tends to occur more frequently in children and adolescents, while chondrosarcoma occurs more often in adults. Cancers that begin in the bone are quite rare. on the other hand, it is not unusual for cancers to spread to the bones from other parts of the body. When this happens, the disease is not called primary bone cancer. Each type of cancer is named for the organ or the tissue in which it begins. Cancer that spreads is the same disease and has the same name as the original (or primary) cancer. any kind of cancer can spread to the bone. This bone metastasis usually occurs late in the disease. Breast, prostate, and lung cancer are the most common types of cancers that spread to the bone. The bones of the spine, pelvis, and ribs are the most commonly affected. The bones of the upper arm and upper leg also may be affected. Multiple myeloma, a type of blood cancer, can affect the bones early in the disease.
What causes bone cancer?
Although scientists are not certain what causes bone cancer, a number of factors may put a person at increased risk. these cancers occur more frequently in children and young adults, particularly those who have had radiation or chemotherapy treatments for other conditions. Adults with Pagets disease, a noncancerous condition characterized by abnormal development of new bone cells, may be at increased risk for osteosarcoma. A small number of bone cancers are due to heredity. For example, children with hereditary retinoblastoma (an uncommon cancer of the eye) are at a higher risk of developing osteosarcoma. The bones support the body and make it possible to move about. Cancers affecting the bone will weaken the bone, and the affected area may break easily. In bone cancer, abnormal cells multiply and spread to form tumors. Healthy bones, nerves, and tissues (including organs) are damaged or destroyed, and the disease can be life threatening. However, successful treatment is often possible, particularly if the cancer is found in its early stages. Chances for successful treatment decrease and the threat to life increases the longer the cancer is untreated. The break can occur for no apparent reason. or, it may be caused by mild trauma that would not normally be expected to cause a bone to break. there may be a genetic link and bones which have been previously fractured or infected may be more susceptible to bone cancer. Excessive exposure to chemicals or radiation may also increase the risk of bone cancer.
What are the symptoms of bone cancer?
Patients may present with persistent pain, swelling, or tenderness of a bone. They may have unexplained fracture of one or more bones, sometimes without noticeable trauma. A fracture in a bone that causes severe pain may be the first sign that cancer has invaded the bone. Sometimes the person will have pain in the area for some time before the fracture occurs. In other cases, there is no pain until the bone breaks. Pain is the most frequent symptom of bone cancer. Sometimes a firm, slightly tender lump on the bone can be felt through the skin. In some cases, bone cancer interferes with normal movements. Bone cancer can also cause bones to break.
How is bone cancer diagnosed?
The presenting symptom is usually pain. Pathologic fracture may be present and is more common in the lower than the upper extremity. The presenting radiologic finding on X-ray is often destruction of bone. In a patient with a known primary malignant tumor presenting with a painful, destructive lesion of bone, a diagnosis of metastatic cancer can be made with some assurance. However, there are individuals in whom the primary cancer is not yet recognized at the time when the early metastatic lesion in bone becomes painful. A CAT scan, MRI, radionuclide bone scan or a skeletal survey may be done to pinpoint which bones have been affected.
What is the treatment for bone cancer?
The treatment of cancer of the bone, especially metastatic cancer, has two goals: management of the neoplasm and management of the symptoms produced by the local lesion. Prognosis is affected by a patient's age, the size of the primary tumor, grade and stage, degree of lymphatic and blood vessel invasion, the duration of symptoms and the location of the tumor on the arm, leg or trunk.
Treatment options depend on the type, size, location, and stage of the cancer, as well as the persons age and general health. Surgery is often the primary treatment. Although amputation of a limb is sometimes necessary, pre- or post-operative chemotherapy has made limb-sparing surgery possible in many cases. When appropriate, surgeons avoid amputation by removing only the cancerous section of the bone and replacing it with an artificial device called a prosthesis.
Chemotherapy and radiation may also be used alone or in combination. because of the tendency for Ewings sarcoma to metastasize rapidly, multidrug chemotherapy is often used, in addition to radiation therapy or surgery on the primary tumor. Radiation therapy is used to treat bone pain in a person who has bone metastasis. Radiation to the affected areas can also prevent further weakening of the bones. The total dose of radiation that can be given is limited, however. Chemotherapy is sometimes used to help control the underlying cancer.