5 Bone Cancer Signs
Here are the 5 most common signs of bone cancer.
- Pain – this is the most common sign of bone cancer. The pain in the affected bone will be felt immediately. However, it is not constant at first. The pain may get worse at night, or whenever you’re using the bone affected. For instance, you feel severe leg pain when you’re standing up or walking. As the cancer progresses, the pain will be constant. It will also get worse with activity.
- Fractures – fractured bones are one symptom of bone cancer. This is because the cancer weakens the bone it’s in. Those with a fracture next to or through a bone tumor usually experience sudden severe pain in a bone. The bone may have been sore for a few months already.
- Swelling – another symptom is swelling in the area of the pain. Although it may not occur until weeks later. It is also possible to feel a lump or mass on the bone, depending on where the tumor is.
- Numbness – oftentimes, if it’s a bone cancer of the spine, the tumor can press on nerves. This may cause a tingling sensation, numbness and weakness.
- Weight loss and fatigue – this is seen in the worst cases where the cancer spreads to internal organs. It may cause other symptoms.
These are pretty common bone cancer signs that may also be due to other conditions other than cancer. This is why it is important to get the opinion of a medical professional so you can find out what may be causing the issues.
What is Bone Cancer?
Osteosarcoma, or bone cancer is when unusual cells grow uncontrollably in your bone. Most of the time, it occurs in the long bones of the arms and legs, but it can also spread there from other parts of your body. This type of cancer usually destroys normal bone tissue.
Because bone cancer is rare, it is important to know the first signs and symptoms. Usually, these symptoms may also be caused by different health conditions. This includes osteoporosis, an injury, arthritis, and etc. This is why proper diagnosis is important.
What Are The Stages Of Bone Cancer?
- Stage One: Low grade tumor, cancer cells are still localized.
- Stage Two: High grade tumor, cancer cells are still localized.
- Stage Three: High grade tumor, cancer has spread to other areas within the same bone.
- Stage Four: Cancer has spread from the bone to other areas of the body.
If you think you or a loved may have bone cancer, it is imperative that you seek immediate medical attention to properly diagnose and treat this condition before it becomes worse. Medicine and treatments are advancing each year!
