What exactly is bone cancer?

Bone cancer is a cancer that occurs in bones or their appendages. It can be benign or malignant. Malignant bone cancer, commonly known as "bone cancer", develops rapidly, has a poor prognosis, and a high mortality rate. Malignant bone cancer is divided into primary and secondary. Malignant cancers from other tissues or organs in the body that metastasize to bones through the blood circulation and lymphatic system are secondary malignant bone cancers. There is also a type of lesion called tumor-like lesions. The tissues of cancer-like lesions do not have the morphological characteristics of cancer cells, but their ecology and behavior are destructive to cancer. They are generally more localized and easier to cure.

Bone Cancer Causes

There is no definite cause of the disease. Internal causes include the theory of constitution, the theory of genes, the theory of endocrine, etc.; external causes include the theory of chronic stimulation by chemical elements and internal and external radiation, the theory of viral infection, etc. Some multiple osteochondromas and fibroid hyperplasia are related to family inheritance. Benign bone cancer can become malignant.

Bone Cancer Symptoms

1. Pain

It is the main symptom of early bone cancer. The disease is mild and intermittent at the beginning. As the disease progresses, the pain may gradually increase and develop into a continuous pain. Most patients have aggravated pain at night and affect their sleep. The pain can radiate to distant places.

2. Swelling or lumps

Cancer located under the periosteum or superficially appears earlier, and bone expansion and deformation can be felt. If the cancer penetrates outside the bone, it may produce a fixed soft tissue mass with a smooth or uneven surface.

3. Dysfunction

In the later stages of bone cancer, the function of the affected area will be impaired due to pain and swelling, which may be accompanied by muscle atrophy in the corresponding area.

4. Compression symptoms

Cancer that grows into the cranial cavity and nasal cavity can compress the brain and nasal tissues, causing symptoms of cranial compression and difficulty breathing; pelvic cancer can compress the rectum and bladder, causing difficulty in defecation and urination; spinal cancer can compress the spinal cord and cause paralysis.

5. Deformity

Cancer affects the development and strength of limb bones and causes deformities, which are more obvious in the lower limbs.

6. Pathological fracture

The cancerous part can easily cause fractures with the slightest external force. The fractured part will be swollen and painful severely. Pathological fractures of the spine are often accompanied by paraplegia.

7. Systemic symptoms

In the later stages of bone cancer, due to the consumption of cancer, stimulation of toxins and painful torture, a series of systemic symptoms may appear, such as insomnia, irritability, loss of appetite, mental depression, pale complexion, progressive weight loss, anemia, cachexia, etc.

The above is an introduction to what bone cancer is, mainly discussing the causes and symptoms of bone cancer. I hope it can help everyone and give everyone a more comprehensive understanding of bone cancer.