Characterization of vestibular schwannoma tissues using liquid ...

stage 4 bone cancer symptoms :: Article Creator

Bone Cancer: Symptoms, Risk Factors, Diagnosis, And Treatment

Bone cancer is treatable, especially if they are diagnosed at an early stage. Treatment depends upon the stage of the disease and site of cancer.

Cancer is a condition characterised by the development of abnormal cells that divide uncontrollably. They can infiltrate and destroy normal body tissue, which, if left untreated, can be fatal. It can originate from different organs like head and neck, lung, stomach, breast,bone,soft tissue etc.

When cancer originates in the human body's bones, it is called bone cancer. Although bone cancer can begin in any bone, it commonly occurs in the pelvis or the long bones in the arms and legs. Alternatively, when cancer is detected in some other part of the body and spreads to bone, it is called bone metastasis.

Bone is a living, changing thing, and in the human body, cells in the bone are constantly undergoing the process of breaking down and rebuilding. There are two types of bone cells, namely osteoclasts and osteoblasts. The function of osteoclasts is to break down old bones, while osteoblasts help to build new bones.

In an interaction with OnlyMyHealth, Dr Indoo Ammbulkar HOD- Medical Oncology, HCG cancer centre, Mumbai, explained all about bone cancer.

What Are The Types of Bone Cancer?

There are three types of primary bone cancer: osteosarcoma, Ewing sarcoma and chondrosarcoma. As per research, with its origin in the osteoblast cells, osteosarcoma is the most common type of primary bone cancer. On the other hand, Ewing sarcoma typically affects children and young adults, generally beginning in the pelvic bones, the spine, ribs, shoulder blades, and the long bones of the legs. Finally, chondrosarcoma is another type of bone cancer that usually affects people above 20.

What Are The Symptoms of Bone Cancer?

One of the most common symptoms of bone cancer is persistent pain that occurs even when the person is resting. In some instances, the pain might be periodic and even cause difficulties in walking.

Other possible signs and symptoms of bone cancer include swelling and tenderness near the affected area, weakened bone leading to fracture, swelling, fever, night sweats, and unintentional weight loss.

Also read: 4 Simple Tips To Prevent Bone Disease

"Since many of these symptoms are also associated with other conditions like knee arthritis and osteoporosis, misdiagnosis is frequent. Understanding the symptoms of bone cancer can help to ensure its timely detection and treatment, thereby improving its outcomes," said Dr Ammbulkar. Further, she added, "Since bone cancer also occurs in children, many people mistake them for growth spurts. To avoid such confusion and prevent delays in treatment, seeking expert advice from a specialist is always recommended."

What Are The Risk Factors For Bone Cancer?

Risk factors related to bone cancer cannot be controlled, so it is highly recommended that a person contacts a doctor or specialist if they have unexplained swelling, pain, or a lump in any part of the bone. Other risk factors include:

A person has a family history of cancer, particularly bone cancer

A person has received radiation treatment or therapy for other types of cancer

A person has Paget's disease, where the bones break down and grow back in an atypical manner

A person has multiple tumours in their bone cartilage

A person suffers from Li-Fraumeni syndrome, Bloom syndrome, or Rothmund-Thomson syndrome, increasing their risk of developing cancers

How is Bone Cancer Diagnosed & Treated?

Bone cancer is diagnosed through three main methods, these include:

A physical examination in which a doctor will examine any lumps or swelling that the patient may be experiencing. The doctor will also ask about any specific symptoms they are experiencing along with their duration to understand the situation better.

Imaging tests like Computed Tomography (CT) scans, X-rays, and MRI, which provide a detailed look into the bone for signs of any tumour, are also conducted by a specialist if required.

A bone biopsy that takes a small bone tissue sample via needle is done to look for cancer cells.

Once bone cancer is diagnosed, the treatment plan depends on the type and stage of cancer. A more comprehensive plan may be needed if it has spread to other body parts. In most cases, specialists and oncologists recommend a combination of treatments which include surgery (removing sections of the affected bone which is then replaced or reconstructed), chemotherapy (involving medicines to kill cancer cells), and radiation therapy (use of radiation to kill cancer cells).

What are the Various Stages Of Bone Cancer?

Staging for any bone cancer depends on the tumour's size and location. It is also based on whether the cancer has spread to other body parts. In most cases, primary bone cancer has four stages:

Stage 1: The tumour is low-grade, with the cancer cells only present in a localised region.

Stage 2: Although the cancer cells are localised, the tumour is high-grade, requiring immediate treatment.

Stage 3: The tumour is high-grade, and cancer has now spread to areas within the same bone.

Stage 4: Cancer has spread from the bone to other body parts, like the lungs or liver.

What is the future outlook for bone cancer patients?

Bone cancer is treatable, especially if they are diagnosed at an early stage. Treatment depends upon the stage of the disease and site of cancer.They are usually treated with surgery and chemotherapy.

Also read: Not Just Your Lungs, Here's How Smoking Is Bad For Your Bone Health Too

It is essential to follow up with a specialist to ensure that the cancer remains under control, as early detection of recurrence will help to ensure successful control and management of the condition.

Young Woman Reveals The Three Symptoms Doctors Ignored For Months Before She Was Diagnosed With Stage 4 Cancer Just Before Her 24th Birthday

Charlotte Squires was diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma in July 2016

Her symptoms were ignored by doctors for 18 months

By Carina Stathis For Daily Mail Australia

Published: 05:38 EDT, 27 August 2023Updated: 05:54 EDT, 27 August 2023

A young woman who noticed a lump in her neck, lost weight and felt 'incredibly fatigued' was told by doctors that her symptoms were 'nothing to worry about'.

However, the side effects continued and 18 months later Charlotte Squires was diagnosed with stage four Hodgkin's lymphoma the week before her 24th birthday.

'By the time I was diagnosed, it wasn't a shock but a relief,' Charlotte, from Victoria's Mornington Peninsula. Told Femail.

'I went to the doctor multiple times to get some answers but was blatantly ignored.

'I was told "you look so good, you've lost so much weight" - when the weight loss was a major symptom.'

Now the 31-year-old mum and doula is on a mission to encourage other women to voice their concerns and trust their gut if something seems wrong.

Charlotte Squires (pictured with partner Jack and their two kids) was diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma the week before her 24th birthday in July 2016

Her symptoms included a lump on the side of her neck, itchy skin, weight loss and fatigue yet despite visiting the GP multiple times all was ignored for 18 months. 'By the time I was diagnosed, it wasn't a shock but a relief,' she said

Prior to receiving the diagnosis, Charlotte was living a 'classic early 20s lifestyle' of going out with friends and enjoying her youth. She was also running a small business full-time.

'Life was very busy, fun and full of exciting things happening. But it was tainted by these physical symptoms I was experiencing,' she recalled.

'As busy as I was, I was unable to keep up with the pace of it all.'

While travelling in New York with her partner and brother she felt a lump in left clavicle - the first of several symptoms.

During the trip her skin also became 'incredibly itchy' and a rash appeared on her legs.

'I thought maybe I had bedbugs but my partner didn't feel itchy,' she said. As a whole her body 'didn't feel right' at the time.

After arriving home she went to visit her GP who wasn't too concerned.

What is Hodgkin's Lymphoma?

Hodgkin lymphoma is a rare form of cancer that starts in a type of white blood cells called lymphocytes.

The disease begins in a lymph node, usually in the neck, then spreads through the lymphatic system from one group of lymph nodes to another.

Hodgkin lymphoma represents roughly 0.5 percent of all cancers diagnosed in Australia. About 11 percent of all lymphomas are types of Hodgkin lymphoma, while the remainder are non-Hodgkin.

Non-Hodgkin lymphoma may arise in lymph nodes anywhere in the body, whereas Hodgkin lymphoma typically begins in the upper body, such as the neck, chest or armpits.

Hodgkin lymphoma is often diagnosed at an early stage and is therefore considered one of the most treatable cancers.

Approximately 600 people in Australia are diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma every year, most commonly younger people aged 15 ¿ 29 and older people over the age of 65. It is more common in men than women.

Source: Lymphoma Australia

Prior to receiving the diagnosis, Charlotte was living a 'classic early 20s lifestyle' of going out with friends and enjoying her youth. 'Life was very busy, fun and full of exciting things happening. But it was tainted by these physical symptoms I was experiencing,' she recalled

Life passed by and she visited the doctor multiple times but never received any answers.

'I was seeing a PT, naturopath and was the healthiest I'd ever been but still thought I was doing something wrong,' she said and was left feeling 'confused' but her mum spurred her on to push for answers.

So she went to a different doctor whom she hadn't seen for 'years' to get a second opinion.

'He asked me, 'What's your biggest fear? What do you think this is?' and I said, 'I think it's Hodgkin's lymphoma',' Charlotte said.

'I relied on Google doctor to think about what it could be and I had never heard of Hodgkins before.'

By this point she had also started noticing lumps swell under her armpits - another common symptom of the blood cancer.

Charlotte then had 'every type of test' to understand why her symptoms were occurring, including a biopsy which was 'inconclusive'. She also saw an ENT surgeon for another minor biopsy.

Flash forward nine weeks and she received the dreadful news - it was cancer.

'Stage four is as bad as it can get. I was so shocked that it got so bad. My hematologist was shocked I slipped through the cracks of the medical system,' she said.

Flash forward nine weeks and she received the dreadful news - it was cancer. 'Stage four is as bad as it can get. I was so shocked that it got so bad. My hematologist was shocked I slipped through the cracks of the medical system,' she said.

'Being diagnosed was my worst nightmare come true. I walked out of the appointment and my entire life was shattered into a million pieces,' she said.

'I spoke to my regular family doctor who asked what my biggest fear was with this, and I wasn't scared of dying but I was scared about the possibility of not having children.'

The cancer was scattered all through her neck, underarms, groin, and chest - but all were 'tiny tumours that were no larger than 7cm.

Before starting treatment, she opted for IVF to retrieve some of her eggs to be used for a later date.

'I've always wanted to be a mum and fertility was a major concern I had. IVF was a one month process then I started chemotherapy in August,' she recalled.

Treatment was required every fortnight for six months and radiotherapy wasn't necessary.

After the first few sessions Charlotte says she felt a 'reduction in size' of the lumps she had in her neck, and a PET scan confirmed the treatment was working to shrink the tumours.

By the end of the treatment there were no further signs of the cancer and she entered remission.

Today Charlotte can happily say she is five years cancer free and within that time she's had two children naturally without requiring the eggs that were retrieved

'The whole journey to wellness was a big process of coming home to myself. I relearnt how to take care of myself,' she said.

'Cancer was the worst wrapped gift I ever received - it was awful and I'd never want to go through it again but it made me appreciate life in a while other way.'

'Today I trust my gut instinct so much more than ever. It's been a huge precursor into motherhood.'

Thankfully six months of chemotherapy worked to rid her body of the deadly cancer and she's now been five years cancer free. In that time she's also had two children naturally and didn't use the eggs which were retrieved through IVF

Charlotte hopes her story with inspire others - particularly young women - to ensure their health is a top priority. 'Trust yourself, back yourself, because you know best. Find people who will listen and validate your concerns and experience,' she said

Charlotte hopes her story with inspire others - particularly young women - to ensure their health is a top priority.

'Trust yourself, back yourself, because you know best. Find people who will listen and validate your concerns and experience,' she said.

'Ultimately, when our back is up against the wall when we need that support, if the right people aren't advocating for us.. We're done for.

'It's really important that women listen to themselves and their gut instinct if they do experience symptoms.'

READ MORE: Young nurse's warning to Aussies about why everyone must have a bedframe to prevent dangerous mould

I put my Adelaide home up for sale and within hours Netflix was on the phone making a very tempting offer - here's why

Mum, 39, with olive skin who tanned easily and thought she was 'invincible' shares the shocking moment an 'annoying bump' on her face turned out to be skin cancer

Red Flag Symptoms Of 'silent Killer' That Strike During Stages 3 And 4

Experts have explained the importance of knowing the symptoms of bowel cancer. This is because the warning signs usually develop when the disease has reached an advanced stage.

The Mirror has reported that it is the second biggest cancer killer in the UK, so the need to know every symptom is crucial. Dr Deborah Lee from Dr Fox Online Pharmacy explained that during stage one "the cancer has grown through the cells lining the bowel wall and into the muscular wall of the intestines but has not spread any further," adding: "Stage one bowel cancer usually has no symptoms".

In stage two, the tumour has grown through the bowel wall and may have spread to nearby tissue. But it has not spread to lymph nodes or distant parts of the body, and it is likely that people may not have symptoms at this point.

READ MORE Every named drink-drive suspect stopped by police in the last week

However, it has been said that symptoms usually strike during stage three and four, including blood in the poo and lower abdominal pain. According to the expert, the signs that often crop up during these stages include:

Bleeding from the rectum

A change in bowel habits with diarrhoea or constipation

Blood in the stools

Lower abdominal pain

A change in the shape of the stool – such as long narrow stools

Excessive gas from the back passage.

NHS bowel cancer 'red flags'

Also, other red flags to look out for, according to the NHS, are losing weight without trying, feeling very tired for no reason, bloating, and often feeling like you need to poo - even if you have just been. It advises anyone who has symptoms of bowel cancer for three weeks or more to contact their GP immediately.

Dr Lee added: "In stage three bowel cancer, the cancer has spread to the lymph nodes but not elsewhere in the body," Dr Lee explained. "In stage four, it has spread for example to the lungs or the liver. In stage three or four bowel cancer, patients often have symptoms such as fatigue, weakness, abdominal pain, weight loss and vomiting.

Search This Blog

Lung Cancer