Bone cancer is a disturbing reality that thousands of people must deal with on a regular basis. It hides in the shadows, until it is too late. It gets harder to ignore cancer as it spreads. The fatigue becomes intolerable weakness, the pain and swelling gets worse. Other conditions might even be discharged as a passing irritation if the diagnosis is still unidentifiable.
There is no way to quantify the human cost of this hidden threat. Hope is lost lives are permanently altered and families are shattered. However, things do not have to be this way. You can empower yourself and loved ones to seek medical attention sooner rather than later by educating them about the different symptoms and sneaky nature of bone cancer.
In this blog post, we will share information about bone cancer, including its causes, symptoms, available treatments, and how long a cancer remains undetected.
What is Bone Cancer?
Cell growth that begins in a bone is known as bone cancer. In any bone bone cancer can begin. But the thighbone is most frequently impacted. The phrase bone cancer does not refer to cancer that start elsewhere in the body and progresses to the bones.
For e.g., it is still lung cancer, if it begins in the lungs and spreads to the bones. Lung cancer that has spread to the bones is what medical professionals may refer to it as. There are several varieties of bone cancer. Children are primarily affected by certain types of bone cancer. The majority of other types occur in adults.
Treatments for bone cancer often involve chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery. Which bone is impacted the type of bone cancer and other variables determine the best course of treatment.
Common Types of Bone Cancer
Bone cancer comes in a number of forms. But, here is a list of some common types of bone cancer.
- Osteosarcoma
- Chondrosarcoma
- Ewing’s Sarcoma
- Chordoma
- Osteochondroma
- Giant Cell Tumor
Primary Causes of Bone Cancer
Bone cancer originates from genetic mutations or environmental factors that disrupt normal cell growth. Primary causes include:
- Genetic predisposition
- Radiation exposure
- Paget’s disease
- Osteogenesis imperfecta
- Previous bone injuries or conditions
- Family history of bone cancer
- Exposure to certain chemicals
- Viruses
While these reasons contribute to bone cancer development and a number of cases have no identifiable cause. Regular medical examination and awareness of symptoms are important for early detection.
Sign & Symptoms
This disease signs can vary depending on the type, location, and stage of the cancer. Here are common symptoms of the bone cancer are:
- Swelling or lump in the cancer area
- Feeling weak or tired
- Unintentional weight loss
- Severe, constant, or nighttime pain
- Weakened bones may fracture or break
- Joint instability or looseness
- Numbness or tingling sensations in arms/legs
- Muscle weakness or loss of function
- Fever
- Chills
- Night sweats
- Anemia (low red blood cell count)
How Long Can Bone Cancer Go Unnoticed?
This type of tumor is a sneaky enemy that can go undiagnosed for years by hide its symptoms as common ailments. This may go years without being detected because of its undefined and mild symptoms. The location, type and growth rate of the tumor are some of the variables that affect how long undiagnosed bone cancer lasts.
Before being diagnosed bone cancer can sometimes go unnoticed for two to five years. For example, according to a study that was published in the Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery found that patients with osteosarcoma, they experienced symptoms for an average of 3.5 months to 2.5 years prior to seeking medical attention.
In other situations, a tumor might spread quickly and causing symptoms to appear within a few months. Patients with Ewing sarcoma, usually exhibit symptoms two to six months prior to diagnosis. Early detection of this disease is crucial, so consult your doctor if your symptoms worsen or remain the same.
Available Treatments & Diagnosis
It can be diagnosed with several other methods, which are listed below:
- Imaging tests (X-rays, MRIs, CT, bone, and PET scans)
- Biopsy
- Chemotherapy
- Surgery
- Radiation therapy
- Other treatments (like proton therapy, targeted therapy, cryosurgery, and immunotherapy)
Conclusion
After finishing our exploration of the invisible field of bone cancer we have come to the sobering conclusion that the silence surrounding the illness is its biggest enemy, not the illness itself. The stories are heartbreaking the statistics are stark and the consequences of a delayed diagnosis are disastrous.
The time to raise awareness is now, you can break the silence surrounding around bone cancer and start a chorus of voices calling for action compassion and attention. When confronted with this concealed danger, you have the option to choose bravery resiliency and community. You will reclaim your life, healing and hope by shedding light on the darkness.