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Cancer of the Bones
Cancer affecting bones most usually arises from cancer elsewhere which has spread (called metastasis). It may cause destruction of the bone with subsequent fracture and pain, or thickening of the bone - a process called sclerosis, as happens with spread of cancer of the prostate. Cancer arising from bone cells themselves more commonly arises in childhood, but can occur at any age. It is called an osteosarcoma if it arises in the bone and a chondrosarcoma if it starts in cartilage. There is pain and swelling over the affected bone or joint, which will feel hot because of the increased blood supply to the tumour. When osteosarcoma occurs in adult life it usually arises at the end of the bone (called the metaphysis) while in children the tumour, called a Ewing's sarcoma, more commonly arises in the middle of the bone. Tumours arising from cells in the bone marrow, produce a condition called multiple myeloma (see myeloma under blood and circulation in the chest cavity), which causes widespread bone destruction.Osteosarcomas and chondrosarcomas may require amputation combined with radiotherapy and chemotherapy: multiple myeloma is treated by radiotherapy, chemotherapy and possibly bone marrow transplantation. |
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