Bone Cancer Prevention

Anything that increases a person's chances of developing bone cancer is called a bone cancer risk factor; anything that decreases a person's chances of developing it is called a bone cancer protective factor. Bone cancer prevention means avoiding the risk factors and increasing the protective factors that can be controlled. While bone cancer prevention does not guarantee that someone will not develop bone cancer, it does decrease the risk of it happening.

Risk Factors

Although some risk factors for bone cancer can be avoided, many cannot. Specific risk factors for bone cancer include:

• Being a child or young adult
• Previous radiation or chemotherapy
• History of Paget's disease
• Family history of bone cancer
• People with hereditary retinoblastoma.

At this point, bone cancer research scientists have not found any bone cancer protective factors.

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Types of Bone Cancer

There are different kinds of bone cancer

1. Benign (noncancerous)
2. Malignant (cancerous)
3. Cancers that start in the bone (primary bone cancer)
4. Cancers that start somewhere else in the body and end up in the bone (secondary bone cancer).

Benign Versus Malignant

Bone tumors can be benign (noncancerous) or malignant (cancerous). Benign bone tumors are more common than malignant bone tumors. Although both types of bone cancer may grow and compress healthy bone tissue and absorb or replace it with abnormal tissue, benign tumors do not spread and are rarely life threatening.

Malignant Bone Cancer Types

The three malignant types of bone cancer are:

• Osteosarcoma
• Chondrosarcoma
• Ewing's sarcoma.

Osteosarcoma

The most common form of bone cancer is osteosarcoma, which develops in the new tissue of growing bones. Osteosarcoma is commonly diagnosed in people between the ages of 10 and 25. Common areas where this bone cancer type appears include the:

• Knees
• Upper legs
• Upper arms.

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Understanding Ewing's Sarcoma

Ewing's sarcoma is a form of bone cancer that is typically found in teenagers as they undergo growth spurts; but it can occur at any age. Early detection is key to surviving this aggressive type of bone cancer. Signs and symptoms, such as pain and swelling or unexplained fever and weight loss, should be checked out by a doctor immediately.

In the United States, 250 children and adolescents are diagnosed with Ewing's sarcoma each year. Although it accounts for only about 3 percent of all childhood cancers, Ewing's sarcoma is the second most common malignant bone cancer in children. In about one-third of those diagnosed with Ewing's sarcoma, the cancer has spread to other areas of the body by the time it’s diagnosed. When this happens, the five-year survival rate is less than 30 percent.

Ewing's sarcoma usually appears in the middle of the long bones of the arms and legs, or in the bones of the pelvis, and often invades the muscle and soft tissue located next to the tumor site. This type of bone cancer also can spread to other parts of the body, including the bone marrow, other bones, lungs, kidneys, and the adrenal gland. Sometimes the tumor remains in the soft tissues of the body and does not involve bone at all.

Ewing's Sarcoma: Causes and Symptoms
Genetics play a major role in Ewing's sarcoma. Nine out of 10 people diagnosed with Ewing's sarcoma have a genetic abnormality that makes them susceptible.

There are no screening tests to detect early signs of bone cancer, including Ewing's sarcoma. The best way to detect Ewing's sarcoma in its earliest stage is to be mindful of its symptoms, which may include:

• pain at or near the site of the tumor
• swelling and redness near the tumor
• fever for no reason
• a bone that breaks unexpectedly and without apparent reason
• weight loss or reduced appetite

Pain is usually the most significant symptom of Ewing's sarcoma. Since many of these symptoms may be attributed to an injury, a muscle strain, or other illnesses or conditions, it's important that you see a doctor as soon as possible if pain persists.

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