Bone tumors are a rare condition in which cells in the bones start to divide excessively. This cell division forms a mass within the bone. While most of these tumors are benign, or noncancerous, they may cause pain and other complications. Cancerous bone tumors will generally need more aggressive treatment than benign tumors. In this article, we will go over possible causes and treatments, as well as bone tumor symptoms.
What Is a Bone Tumor?
While bone tumors can cause serious health complications, their causes are still unknown. Some physicians think they may be caused by injuries, genetic defects, or radiation.
Cancerous bone tumors may be primary tumors or secondary tumors. Primary tumors originate in the bone, while secondary tumors are cancers that have spread from other areas of the body. Breast, thyroid, prostate, kidney, and lung cancers can commonly migrate, or metastasize, to the bone. While there are many different types of both primary and secondary tumors, secondary tumors will usually need to be treated differently from primary tumors.
Bone Tumor Symptoms
Just as there are many types of tumors, bone tumor symptoms can also vary widely. Sometimes, a tumor is completely painless. But one of the most common bone tumor symptoms is pain at the tumor site. Because a growth in the bone may weaken it, a bone with a tumor also may fracture easier.
Depending on where a tumor is located, a patient may be able to see or feel a lump or swelling under the skin. If the tumor is cancerous, fatigue and unintentional weight loss can also occur. Since many bone tumor symptoms are similar to symptoms of other conditions, it is important to have this condition diagnosed by a physician.
Quickcare or ER?
Because bone tumor symptoms are often similar to other conditions and many bone tumors are benign, you usually will not need to get to the ER if you suspect you have bone cancer. However, if you experience a fracture, treatment in the ER may be best.
Diagnosing Bone Tumors
What Will Your Doctor Ask?
If you visit your doctor suspecting that you have a bone tumor, your doctor will first ask you some general questions about your symptoms. He or she may ask about tenderness or swelling at the site, as well as whether or not you can feel a lump under the skin. Your doctor also will ask if you have had any recent injuries that could explain your symptoms.
In addition to asking you these questions, the medical specialist will also likely feel the area to see if he or she can feel the possible bone tumor.
What Will Your Doctor Look for?
While asking general questions is an important first step, your doctor will order imaging tests if he or she suspects that your symptoms match up with bone tumor symptoms. These tests may include X-rays, bone scans, CT scans, PET scans, and MRIs. These scans will visualize the area, allowing the specialist to see whether there is a mass in your bone or not.
If the scan or other imaging test shows a mass, the doctor may then recommend a biopsy, or removal of a portion of the mass for analysis. The biopsy may be performed surgically, or it may simply involve using a thin needle to obtain a tissue sample.
How Will Your Doctor Analyze It?
Throughout this process, the doctor will be analyzing your possible bone tumor symptoms and scan or biopsy results to determine whether or not you have a bone tumor. If you do have a mass in your bone, the medical specialist will then be looking closely at biopsy results to determine whether the tumor is cancerous or not.
If your tumor is found to be cancerous, the doctor will work to determine the stage of cancer as well as possible treatments to eradicate cancer from your body.
What Is the Treatment for Bone Cancer?
Because there are many different types of tumors, your bone tumor symptoms may be treated with a range of different ways. If you have a benign tumor, your physician may advise simply watching it over time. Alternatively, certain medications may be able to reduce the size of the bone tumor. Some bone tumors eventually disappear on their own.
Malignant bone tumors will require more aggressive treatment. The exact treatment will depend on the stage of cancer, its location, and whether or not it has metastasized elsewhere in the body. Radiation therapy may be used locally, while chemotherapy may be used to prevent or treat the spread of cancer to the rest of the body. The tumor may also be surgically removed.
How Long Will You Have a Bone Tumor?
Each bone tumor is different. So, it is impossible to say exactly how long each patient will have a bone tumor. Some benign tumors may disappear on their own in a few years, and others may remain for life. For malignant tumors, complete removal may be possible depending on the stage of cancer.
If your bone tumor requires radiation or chemotherapy, the duration of these treatments will vary. While the treatments start working immediately, it will take time for you to return to health. However, it is important to be vigilant, as some bone cancers can return. Patients must do that even if they have had complete removal surgery.
Putting It All Together
While bone tumors can be very serious, they are also very rare. If you suspect you have bone tumor symptoms, you should schedule an appointment with your doctor. Do this, especially if those symptoms do not disappear over time. In case you have a malignant tumor, seeking medical attention early can help minimize your risks of more serious complications.
If you have a benign tumor that is causing you pain, your doctor may be able to help you. He/she can treat and manage the pain in order to get you back to a better quality of life.