Bone cancer: Early signs often missed, crucial for young lives
Bone cancer is a disease that can be challenging to diagnose because its symptoms are often mistaken for those of other conditions. Unfortunately, this can lead to late detection, reducing the chances of effective treatment. So, how can we recognize the formidable foe that is bone cancer?
24 Oct 2024 | updated: 25 October 2024 05:11
Bone cancer is a malignant tumour most frequently diagnosed in children and young adults. The most common type of this disease is osteosarcoma, a type of bone cancer. Osteosarcoma typically develops around the knee, although this is not always the case. The cancer can also appear in other areas of the lower limbs.
Symptoms to be concerned about include not only pain but also redness and swelling of the limb. These are particularly worrying when they occur without any apparent cause.
Although the cause of osteosarcoma is not fully understood, factors such as rapid bone growth and exposure to ionizing radiation may increase the risk of developing this cancer.
This is a genetically conditioned cancer
This is not the only reason for this cancer's occurrence. Genetic factors can also play a significant role. Interestingly, this cancer is more prevalent among people of Hispanic and African American descent, similar to Ewing's sarcoma – the second most common bone cancer. It is mainly diagnosed in patients aged 10 to 15 years and in young adults over the age of 20. Therefore, appropriate prevention should be implemented promptly.
Besides heredity, other factors that may cause this cancer include viruses, thermal injuries, certain chemicals, and mechanical injuries. Such occurrences should be investigated thoroughly.
Symptoms of cancer can be very diverse
One of the early signs of bone cancer is pain in the area affected by the tumour. This pain is intense and persistent, and painkillers do not provide relief. Importantly, it is most often felt at night and can wake you from sleep. This is a distinguishing symptom compared to growing pains experienced by adolescents during puberty, which generally occur during physical activities or daily tasks.
Besides pain, swelling, and redness at the tumour site, bone fractures occurring even with minor injuries should also raise concern, as they may indicate significant cancer progression.
Other symptoms include fatigue and sudden weight loss. Bone cancer can spread rapidly, making early diagnosis crucial for treatment, which can take various forms.
Treatment options for bone cancer include chemotherapy and radiation therapy using X-rays. Surgical intervention to remove cancerous tissues is also considered when possible.
