Modern methods of treatment for bone cancer diagnosis

The phrase “bone cancer” refers to malignant tumors of bone tissue. In fact, this is not quite the correct term. Strictly speaking, the word “cancer” applies only to tumors that originate from epithelial tissues - skin and mucous membranes. Bone tissue is one of the types of connective tissue . Malignant tumors developing from it are called sarcomas .

The choice of treatment and prognosis are determined by the type of bone cancer the patient is diagnosed with and several other factors.

Bones

A typical healthy adult has over 200 bones, which:

• support and protect internal organs;
• glued to muscles, which allows movement;
• contain bone marrow, which produces and stores new blood cells;
• contain proteins, minerals and nutrients such as calcium.

Bones are made up of different parts, including a hard outer layer (known as cortical or compact bone) and a spongy inner core (known as trabecular or cancellous bone).

Cartilage is the strong material at the end of each bone that allows one bone to move relative to another. The place where the cartilages intersect is called a joint.

Cyberknife

This is also radiation therapy, but is distinguished by the highest precision and the use of stereotactic radiosurgery. The device that is used for such operations makes it possible to carry out the most complex operations without blood or pain. Brachytherapy also refers to radiation therapy. Its peculiarity is that the radiation source is not located outside the patient. The radiating element is introduced into the body and, being in close proximity to the lesion, acts on the tumor constantly, with a calculated intensity.

What is bone cancer?

Bone cancer is a group of malignant tumors in bone cells. Bone tumors can be primary or secondary.

1. Primary bone cancer means that the cancer originates in the bones. The tumor can develop on the surface of the bone, in the outer or inner layer of the bone. As the tumor grows, the cancer cells multiply and destroy bone. If left untreated, primary bone cancer can spread to other parts of the body.
2. Secondary (metastatic) bone cancer means that the cancer started in another part of the body, such as the breast or lung, and has spread to the bones.

Stages

There are four stages of bone cancer; doctors distinguish additional substages:

• first stage - the neoplasm is localized on a bone site, low degree of malignancy;
• 1A – the tumor grows, it puts pressure on the bone walls, swelling forms and pain occurs;
• 1B – cancer cells affect the entire bone, but remain in the bone;
• second stage - cancer cells begin to spread into soft tissues;
• stage three – tumor growth;
• the fourth (thermal) stage is the process of metastasis to the lungs and lymphatic system.

How common is bone cancer?

Bone cancer is rare. Every year, about 600–1000 new cases of primary bone cancer are diagnosed in the Russian Federation. Bone tumors affect people of all ages and are slightly more common in men than women. If it develops later in life, it may be associated with another bone disease (see risk factors).

Types of bone cancer

There are more than 30 types of primary bone cancer. The most common types include:

Osteosarcoma (about 35% of bone cancers)

• begins in cells involved in the creation and growth of bone tissue;
• often affects the arms, legs and pelvis, but can occur in any bone;
• occurs both in children and young people during the period of bone growth, and in older people aged 70 to 80 years;
• Most malignant neoplasms are full-fledged tumors.

Chondrosarcoma (about 30% of bone cancers)

• begins in cells involved in cartilage growth;
• often affects bones in the upper arms, legs, pelvis, ribs and shoulder blades;
• most often found in middle-aged and elderly people;
• a slow-growing form of cancer that rarely spreads to other parts of the body;
• most tumors are low grade.

Ewing's sarcoma (about 15% of bone cancers)

• affects bone or soft tissue cells that multiply rapidly and are often accompanied by large tumors;
• often affects the pelvis (hips), legs, ribs, spine, shoulders;
• common in children and young adults;
• all tumors are high grade

Some cancers affect the soft tissue around bones. These are known as soft tissue sarcomas and can be treated in different ways. For more details, talk to your doctor.

Symptoms of malignant bone tumors

Pain is often the first symptom of bone cancer. At first it occurs only during sleep and physical activity, then it becomes constant and painful. If the affected area of ​​the bone is not covered by massive muscles and is close to the skin, the tumor can be seen during visual inspection and palpated. Swelling occurs.

Cancer destroys normal bone tissue, weakens bones, and eventually pathological fractures occur with little force. During a bone fracture, severe acute pain occurs. If the tumor compresses the nerve, numbness, tingling, and muscle weakness (paresis, even paralysis) appear in the affected part of the body.

Similar symptoms can occur with other diseases, for example, with arthritis, osteomyelitis, after injuries. Bone cancer is rare, but if you experience bone pain for no apparent reason, it is best to immediately visit a doctor and get checked.

Risk factors and causes of bone cancer

The causes of most bone cancers are unknown, but some factors that increase the risk include:

Previous radiotherapy

Radiation therapy to treat cancer increases the risk of developing bone cancer. The risk is higher for people who receive high doses of radiation therapy at a young age. However, this is still rare; most people treated with radiation do not develop bone cancer.

Other bone pathologies

Some people who have had bone diseases such as Paget's disease, fibrous dysplasia, or multiple enchondromas are at higher risk of bone cancer. Some studies also show that people with soft tissue sarcoma have an increased risk of developing bone cancer.

Genetic factors

Some inherited diseases, such as Li-Fraumeni syndrome (LFS), increase the risk of developing bone cancer. People with a family history of some other types of cancer are also at risk. Talk to your cancer clinic for more information.

Causes

The exact reasons for the development of bone cancer have not yet been clarified, but doctors identify several risk factors:

1. heredity - Rothmund-Thomson disease, Li-Fraumeni syndrome, the presence of the RB1 gene, which causes retinoblastoma;
2. Paget's disease, which affects bone structure;
3. precancerous neoplasms (chondroma, chondroblastoma, osteochondroma, ecostosis of cartilage and bone, and others;
4. exposure to radiation rays on the body, prolonged exposure to ionizing radiation;
5. injuries, fractures, bruises.

Symptoms and signs

The most common symptom of bone cancer is severe bone and joint pain. The pain gradually becomes constant and does not improve with simple analgesics (painkillers) such as Paracetamol . The pain may worsen at night or during the day.

Other symptoms may include:

• swelling over the affected part of the bone;
• bone stiffness or tenderness;
• problems with movement, such as unexplained lameness;
• loss of sensation in the affected limb;
• bone fracture;
• unexplained weight loss;
• fatigue.

However, most people with these symptoms may not have bone cancer. If you have symptoms for more than two weeks, you should see your GP (GP).

This is the leg of a 27 year old woman (Cheryl), who at the age of 15 noticed that her leg began to gradually swell, but at first she ignored this phenomenon. Finally, it got to the point that her leg began to hurt terribly and swell faster, only after she went to see a doctor, where she was diagnosed with bone sarcoma.

Treatment for cancer metastases in bones

When treating bone metastases, chemotherapy is used that is effective against the primary tumor. Radiation therapy is used. If metastatic lesions lead to significant destruction of bone tissue, bisphosphonates . These drugs are administered intravenously every 3-4 weeks and help prevent pathological fractures, reduce pain, and lower calcium levels in the blood.

Surgical treatment is palliative. In pathological fractures, bones are strengthened using screws, rods and other metal structures. Sometimes they resort to radiofrequency ablation: a needle is inserted into the tumor and a high-frequency current is applied to it, which destroys tumor cells.

Diagnostics

If you are experiencing symptoms that may be caused by bone cancer, your doctor will take your medical history and perform a physical examination. Bone cancer can be difficult to diagnose and it is likely that you will be referred for the following tests:

• X-ray: a painless bone scan that can reveal bone damage;
• blood tests: including complete blood count;
• CT or MRI: uses a special computer to scan and create images to detect any abnormalities in the bone tissue; takes about an hour to complete
• Positron emission tomography ( PET scan): you will be given a small amount of radioactive glucose solution to highlight any cancerous areas in the scan; may take approximately 90 minutes to complete;
• bone biopsy: removing some cells and tissue from the affected bone for examination under a microscope. A biopsy can be done in one of two ways. In a needle biopsy, a local anesthetic is used to numb the area, then a thin needle is inserted into the bone under CT guidance. An open or surgical biopsy is performed under general anesthesia. The surgeon cuts the skin to expose the bone and takes a tissue sample.

Staging

Test results will help your doctors determine the stage of bone cancer. You may also have some other diagnostic tests (such as a bone scan, bone marrow biopsy, PET scan, or chest CT scan) to evaluate whether the bone cancer has spread from the original site to other parts of the body.

Staging describes how far the tumor has spread and helps your healthcare team plan the most appropriate treatment for you.

Classification

The classification describes how quickly cancer can develop.

Low degree

Cancer cells are similar to normal cells. They usually grow slowly and are less likely to spread.

High degree

Cancer cells look very abnormal. They grow quickly and are more likely to spread.

Stages of bone cancer

There are different staging systems for bone cancer. Ask your doctor to explain to you what stage you are in.

Stage 1 (localized)

Cancer contains low-grade cells; it does not spread beyond the bone tissue.

Stage 2 (localized)

Cancer contains complete cells; it does not spread beyond the bone tissue.

Stage 3 (localized)

There are several full-fledged tumors in the same bone; there are none outside the bone.

Stage 4 (advanced)

Cancer of any degree; metastasizes (spreads) to other parts of the body (such as the lungs).

Choosing a bone biopsy site

The area for biopsy must be carefully chosen so as not to cause problems if further surgery is necessary. It is important that the bone biopsy is performed by a doctor who specializes in treating bone cancer. This also helps ensure the sample is useful and reduces the risk of cancer spreading.

Diagnostic methods

Typically, a patient who comes to the clinic with a complaint of bone pain is first prescribed an x-ray. This is the fastest and most accessible diagnostic method; it allows you to quickly assess the condition of bone tissue and detect pathological formations. The affected bone looks “eaten away” on the pictures, or a defect or “hole” is found in it. You can see how the tumor spreads into neighboring tissues. Some signs on radiographs suggest the presence of a malignant tumor with a high degree of probability, but only a biopsy can make an accurate diagnosis.

Computed tomography helps to clarify the size, location, number of tumor foci, the degree of germination into surrounding tissues, and detect metastases in the lymph nodes and internal organs. MRI is prescribed according to indications: it helps to better visualize the tumor and assess the condition of the soft tissues, brain and spinal cord.

Positron emission tomography helps in searching for small metastases. During the study, sugar molecules with a radioactive label are introduced into the body. Tumor cells absorb the radiopharmaceutical and become visible in pictures taken with a special device.

The most accurate method for diagnosing cancer is a biopsy. During the study, a fragment of presumably tumor tissue is obtained and sent to the laboratory to study the appearance of cells, tissue structure, and molecular genetic characteristics. A biopsy can be performed in different ways:

• For a fine-needle biopsy, a syringe with a needle is used. If the bone is deep and hidden by muscles, the procedure is carried out under the control of computed tomography.
• For trephine biopsy, a thick needle with a diameter of approximately one and a half millimeters is used. This method is considered better than fine-needle biopsy and allows for a more accurate diagnosis.
• Sometimes a large fragment of bone is needed for examination. In such cases, an excisional or incisional biopsy is performed: surgery is performed to remove all or part of the tumor.

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Bone cancer treatment

Treating bone cancer is a complex process. For best results, it is recommended that you be referred to specialized sarcoma centers before the biopsy.

Your doctor will recommend the best treatment for you depending on:

• type of primary bone cancer;
• location and size of the tumor;
• whether the cancer has spread (its stage);
• age, physical fitness and general health of the patient;
• your preferences.

Treatment for primary bone cancer usually involves surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy, or a combination of these treatments, to fight the cancer and maintain the affected area of ​​the body. Many people who are treated for bone cancer go into remission (when symptoms of bone cancer decrease or disappear).

Understanding the available treatments and possible side effects will help you weigh the pros and cons of different treatments. You may want to get a second opinion from another specialist to confirm or clarify the first doctor's recommendations.

Celandine tincture in the fight against bone cancer

Celandine is very similar in its medicinal properties to hemlock, so a tincture of this herb is made according to the same recipe. It is important to remember that celandine is a very poisonous plant.

An overdose of its juice can cause death. Also, people suffering from inflammatory stomach diseases and acute renal failure should refrain from taking celandine tincture.

Surgery

There are different types of operations depending on the location of the cancer.

Limb salvage operation

Surgery to remove cancer but save a limb is performed in about nine out of 10 people. General anesthesia is given and the surgeon removes the affected part of the bone. The surgeon will also remove some surrounding normal-looking bone and muscle to make sure as many cancer cells are removed as possible and to reduce the chance of them returning. This is called a wide local excision. A pathologist will examine the tissue to see if the edges are clear of cancer cells.

The surgeon replaces the removed bone with an implant (prosthesis) or bone graft. A graft involves using a piece of healthy bone from another part of your body or from a "donor bone bank .

A bone bank is an organization that collects tissue for research and use during surgery. In some cases, it may be possible to treat the removed bone with radiotherapy to kill cancer cells and then use the sterilized bone to rebuild the limb.

After surgery, the remaining soft tissue and skin will heal. You will be given medications to help manage any pain. There will be some changes in how the remaining limb looks, feels, or functions. A physical therapist can plan an exercise program to help restore strength and function to your limbs.

Your doctor will tell you about the risks associated with the surgery. It is likely that antibiotics will be given to reduce the risk of infection of the bone tissue or prosthesis.

Surgery to remove a limb (amputation)

Sometimes it is not possible to remove all of the cancer without causing too much damage to the arm or leg. For about one in 10 people, the only effective treatment is limb removal . This procedure has become less common as limb salvage surgery has improved.

After surgery, any remaining tissue (called the residual limb) will be swollen and tender. You will be given medication for pain and taught how to care for the residual limb. Once the area has healed, you may be fitted with a prosthesis.

If you have had a leg removed (amputated) and fitted with a prosthesis, your physical therapist will teach you exercises and techniques to improve function, such as walking. In some cases, using a prosthesis is too difficult, painful, or uncomfortable, and you may prefer to use a wheelchair.

If an arm is removed, a professional will teach you how to eat and dress using one arm. If a prosthesis is fitted, a professional doctor will teach you exercises and techniques to better control and use the prosthesis.

Surgery in other parts of the body

Pelvis

When possible, the cancer is removed along with some healthy tissue around it (wide local excision). Some people may need bone grafts to rebuild their pelvic bone.

Jawbone or cheek bone (mandible or maxilla)

The surgeon will remove the affected bone. Once healed, bones from other parts of the body can be used to replace the affected bone. Because the face is a delicate area, it may be difficult to remove cancer surgically, and some people may require different treatments (see below).

Spine or skull

If surgery is not possible, a combination of procedures may be used. This may include radiation therapy, cryotherapy (freezing treatment), or curettage (removing cancer). If you need one of these specialized treatments, your doctor will discuss the details with you.

Prevention

Even the most advanced and modern preventive measures cannot provide complete protection against cancer. Unfortunately, this process can begin in anyone, even an absolutely healthy person. However, such measures still reduce the risk of developing cancer. Prevention is standard here; doctors recommend a number of classic solutions:

• Quitting alcohol, tobacco and drugs.
• Regular moderate physical activity.
• Eat a healthy diet, excluding excessively fatty, salty or sweet foods.
• Taking vitamin and mineral complexes to strengthen the body's defenses as recommended by a doctor.

All these methods will help minimize the risk of developing cancer even in old age.

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy uses drugs to destroy or slow the growth of cancer cells while causing minimal damage to healthy cells. For some types of bone cancer, such as advanced osteosarcoma and Ewing's sarcoma , chemotherapy may be prescribed:

• before surgery to reduce the size of the tumor and facilitate its removal;
• after surgery or radiation therapy to kill any cancer cells;
• to help stop the growth of cancer cells or control symptoms of advanced cancer (palliative treatment).

Medicines are usually injected into a vein over several hours. Most people have several cycles of treatment. The number and duration of chemotherapy cycles depends on the type of bone cancer.

Radiosurgery for bone cancer

When a secondary, metastatic cancer is diagnosed in human bone tissue, treatment becomes a rather difficult process. This is due to the fact that this type of pathology is detected exclusively in the last stages. The feasibility of carrying out therapeutic measures in this case among domestic oncologists is the subject of ongoing discussion, and in leading Western clinics it is considered necessary.

According to the mutual opinion of foreign experts, even with an inoperable cancer tumor, when a complete cure is impossible, after removal of bone metastases, the suffering of the cancer patient is significantly alleviated, and his quality of life also improves. In this case, radiosurgery is used for therapy. Removal of metastases from bones is carried out using devices such as Gamma Knife and CyberKnife. They affect a malignant tumor with a stream of photons, the only difference is that the latter is more universal and applies to all tumors.

Radiosurgery with the help of these devices is not an operation in the known sense of the word. The procedure consists in the fact that the thinnest beams of radiation are directed strictly at the damaged tissues, but unlike a scalpel, they do not cut them, but bloodlessly destroy them.

Cyber ​​Knife treatment method

The advantages of Cyber ​​Knife are as follows:

• possible use in the most severe cancer patients for whom surgery or radiation therapy have been unsuccessful;
• absence of incisions, blood, pain and postoperative sutures, as well as a minimal amount of radiation burns and damage to healthy tissues;
• elimination of metastases using CyberKnife is possible at any depth and in the most inaccessible places;
• The procedure is painless and therefore does not require the use of anesthesia.

A treatment program using a method such as radiosurgery is drawn up for each individual patient. The proposed therapeutic measures are influenced by the localization of the tumor process, its size and degree of malignancy.

Radiotherapy

Radiotherapy uses high-energy x-rays to kill cancer cells. It may be used for certain types of bone cancer, such as Ewing's sarcoma, and may be used for:

• before surgery to reduce the size of the tumor;
• after surgery or chemotherapy to kill remaining cancer cells;
• to help control cancer if surgery cannot remove the tumor.

New treatments:

Many clinical trials are being conducted today, testing new treatments to see if they are better than current methods. Access to new treatments is an important factor in the treatment of cancer patients. Talk to your doctor about the latest innovations in cancer therapy and whether you are a good candidate.

Radiation therapy is usually given every weekday, with rest on weekends. How long your treatment will take depends on the type and size of cancer, but it may take several weeks. Your specialist will provide details about your specific treatment plan.

Side effects will depend on the area being treated and the strength of the dose. Not everyone will experience side effects to the same extent. Common side effects include fatigue (weakness), red or sore skin, and hair loss in the treatment area. Ask your healthcare team for advice on how to manage any side effects.

Basic treatment methods

The treatment method is chosen by the doctor, for this purpose the following can be used:

• Treatment with medications containing hormones (Androcur, Megays, Anadrol, Flutamide).
• Operative therapy. Gives positive results when there are no metastases. It is used in 90% of cases of oncological bone pathology.
• Use of radiation and chemotherapy. Recently, the radiation method has been used only for Ewing's sarcoma or reticulosarcoma. Chemotherapy is used both before and after surgery to eliminate a malignant tumor.
• The latest development is the use of a cyber knife. This powerful laser device is highly accurate and allows surgical intervention for bone cancer to be performed bloodlessly and with high precision.

Megays

Flutamide

Anadrol Androcur

Emotional well-being

Physical changes associated with bone cancer treatment may affect your self-esteem and body image. It's natural to focus on the part of the body that has changed. Give yourself time to adapt to any changes in your appearance.

Limb-sparing surgery is a major operation that can leave noticeable scars on your body, making you feel self-conscious. If a limb is amputated, it may take several months to feel comfortable with the prosthesis. You may limit your interactions with other people because you are concerned about how you look or because you have difficulty getting around. Physical therapy can help restore flexibility and ease of movement.

Most people need emotional support before and after treatment, especially if they have had an amputation or large portion of bone removed. Many people find that talking to a counselor, psychologist, friend or family member helps them.

Postoperative period

Unfortunately, even the most effective and long-term treatment cannot provide a 100% guarantee that the disease will not relapse. The further prognosis of bone cancer, in particular its possible recurrence, directly depends on many factors. Therefore, after chemotherapy procedures and surgery, it is necessary to monitor the patient’s condition. It is rehabilitation that has a huge impact on the restoration of all functions of the body, including the psycho-emotional state of the patient. An individual rehabilitation process is developed for each person: it is based on the results of the treatment performed and all possible side effects are taken into account. With timely treatment of bone cancer and proper rehabilitation measures, the patient's chances of a long life increase significantly.

Follow-up examinations

After treatment, examinations are needed every 3 to 12 months for several years to confirm that the cancer has not returned and to help manage any side effects of treatment. You will need to undergo a medical examination and possibly additional imaging studies.

How often you will need to see your doctor depends on the type of bone cancer. Doctor visits and tests will become less frequent once the problem no longer bothers you.

Tell your doctor about any health problems between appointments. Your doctor will tell you what to do if your bone cancer comes back.

Diagnosis of the disease

Bone cancer has very specific symptoms that may prompt you to see a doctor. And during the initial examination, the therapist may suspect a malignant neoplasm. However, in addition to cancer, the same symptoms can be caused by bone infections that do not require long-term treatment with chemotherapy. Therefore, to diagnose the disease, it is necessary to give the patient a biopsy - take a sample of bone tissue. In addition to the biopsy, the patient must donate blood for window markers, undergo a CT scan, have an MRI and undergo other tests prescribed by the doctor.

If the cancer comes back

In some people, bone cancer recurs (comes back after treatment). The risk of bone cancer coming back is higher during the first 5 years after treatment. If the cancer does recur, treatment will likely involve a combination of surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy.

In some cases of advanced bone cancer, treatment will focus on managing your symptoms and improving your quality of life without trying to cure the disease. Palliative care can relieve pain and help manage any other signs and symptoms.

Radiation therapy

Bone tissue is quite weakly susceptible to ionizing radiation, so it is used quite rarely. The main diagnosis for which it is used is Ewing's sarcoma. The purpose of the rays is to affect inoperable tumors and treat areas after operations. Intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) shows higher effectiveness. The difference between such beams and traditional ones is the modeling of multidirectional beams according to the shape of the tumor, which allows targeted treatment of the malignant focus.

Checklist for your doctor

Here is a small list of questions you can ask your doctor to more or less understand the whole situation:

• What type of bone cancer do I have?
• What treatment do you recommend and why?
• What's the prognosis?
• How long will therapy take?
• Should I stay in the hospital?
• Is surgery necessary, what are its consequences (side effects)?
• Do I need an amputation?
• Are the latest screening and treatment options available at the hospital for this type of bone cancer?
• Can I join any clinical trials? If the cancer has spread beyond the bone, what treatment options are available to me?
• How often will I need check-ups after therapy?
• If the cancer comes back, how will you know?

Types of tumors

Bone cancer is usually differentiated by the location of the malignant neoplasm. Each type has its own developmental characteristics, and therefore its own approaches to treatment.

1. Ewing's sarcoma. This lesion can occur in absolutely any bones of the skeleton, incl. in the clavicles, shoulder blades and pelvic bones, but most often in the long bones. This type of cancer is considered very aggressive, since it grows rapidly and the tumor quickly metastasizes to surrounding organs and tissues. Often teenagers and young adults experience this disease.

2. Osteosarcoma. This is the most common type of bone cancer and is most often found in the pelvis and extremities. What is typical is that the tumor actively “attacks” the bone cells, and metastasizes only at the very end, when the entire bone is affected.

3. Chondrosarcoma. This type of oncology appears in cartilage, after which it begins to affect bone tissue directly. Most often, the disease affects flat bones of the skeleton and is practically not found in tubular bones.

Doctors note that such a disease can develop in two ways. The first is favorable, because the tumor develops slowly and actually does not metastasize. With the second development path, metastases appear already at the first stage of the tumor. A characteristic feature of this cancer is that it appears in people aged 40–60 years.

4. Fibrosarcoma. This malignant formation is detected quite often. Its peculiarity is that cancer cells originate in soft tissues, i.e. in tendons or connective tissue, and only then transfer to bone tissue. Most often, fibrosarcomas affect the bones of the legs, and the fair sex encounters this disease much more often.

5. Chondroma. This growth appears quite rarely and belongs to cartilaginous tumors. Scientists believe that chondroma begins its development from embryonic tissue. Most often it is found in the sacrum or at the base of the skull.

6. Fibrous histocytoma. People suffering from Paget's disease (pathological reorganization of bone tissue) are most often exposed to tumor formation. Very often, such oncology occurs as a result of bone fractures, and it has an aggressive course and quickly metastasizes, affecting mainly lung tissue.

7. Giant cell tumor. This growth also has another name – osteoblastoclastoma. It mainly affects adjacent tissues and the terminal parts of bones. The tumor rarely metastasizes, but after its removal there is a high probability of relapse.

8. Lymphomas and myelomas of bones. Lymphomas are tumors that initially arise in the lymph nodes and then spread to the bones, and the term myeloma refers to the rapid division of bone marrow cells. As a result of such processes, areas of osteoporosis appear in bone structures, which leads to their fractures.

Symptoms of the disease

The very first sign of a developing disease is pain that appears at the site of tumor formation. True, pain is temporary, and therefore a person is in no hurry to seek help from doctors.

However, if initially the pain is felt only with pressure, as the disease progresses, it begins to be felt constantly, having a dull and aching character. In this case, from the place where the growth appears, pain can radiate to nearby parts of the body, for example, to the arm, leg or shoulder. Such unpleasant sensations do not go away even at rest, disturbing the patient at night, and are not relieved by taking analgesics.

In addition, swelling may appear at the site of the malignant tumor. This area of ​​skin becomes red and warm due to the increased temperature. The affected limb (or joint) itself loses mobility, which leads to difficulty in movements and the inability to perform any actions. If the tumor affects the lower extremities, the patient may experience tingling, numbness and pain, gradually leading to lameness. Moreover, such a bone can break even with a minor fall. In any case, if these symptoms are ignored, over time the tumor will begin to grow, leading to protrusion of the growth at the site of the lesion, as well as deformation of the limb or body.

Other symptoms characteristic of all cancer diseases include:

• deterioration of general health;
• the appearance of low-grade fever;
• lethargy and decreased performance;
• heavy sweating even at rest;
• enlarged lymph nodes in the area of ​​the affected bone;
• lack of appetite and food rejection;
• severe weight loss;
• depression of the psychological state (nervousness and irritability).