Bone cancer is a malignant form of cancer that begins in the bone and destroys normal bone cells. This unusual kind of cancer affects both adults and children.
Most people who have a disease in their bones develop it from the secondary spread of another cancer. This condition is called Metastasis.
Some of the common risk factors associated with the development of bone cancer previous chemotherapy, diseases such as hereditary retinoblastoma, tuberous sclerosis, or prior treatment with radiation therapy.
Keep reading to learn more about the symptoms of bone cancer.
1. Bone Pain:
One of the most common complaints of patients with bone cancer is consistent pain in the affected bone. The pain may not be constant at first, it can come and go but gradually becomes chronic.
Typically, the pain is worse at night. However, it can also ache during the day, such as pain in the legs while walking.
As cancer spreads the pain tends to remain there all the time. With more physical activity, it increases more.
2. Swelling and Redness:
You will experience swelling and tenderness in the affected area if you develop bone cancer. However, inflammation may not be visible in the early stages of cancer.
It usually shows up after a few weeks. You may fee a lump or mass deposition on the site of the tumor. If a bump develops in the bones of the neck, then inflammation can occur in the back of the throat. This condition will lead to problems swallowing.
3. Fractures Due Bone Weakness:
Abnormal growth of cells weakens the bone as the disease grows. In most cases, the bones do not fracture or break.
However, you might complain of sudden severe pain in your limb. This sign is especially notable after it has been tender for a few months. Bone cancer can make the bones weak that they can break even after a minor fall.
4. Limping:
Limping is a common symptom seen majorly in people who develop bone cancer in the leg. It is a condition where a person is not able to walk correctly.
5. Unexplained Weight Loss:
Sudden loss of weight that is not caused by stress, physical workouts, or a changed diet plan can be a sign of bone cancer.
Typically, you will experience weight loss along with bone pain. This state requires immediate medical attention. As the body won’t be able to get rid of wastes easily, you will experience constipation.
A loss of appetite will follow, leading to unintended weight loss.
6. Fever:
Among the set of different complications associated with bone cancer, contracting a low-grade fever is a telling sign. Though not every time, but in a lot of cases, bone cancer can trigger a fever. Not only will you have a temperature, but other symptoms as well.
The temperature is usually low-grade, from mild to moderate. It should be around 99 degrees but can be higher in some cases.
7. Anemia:
If you have been running short of breath and feeling tired for a few days now, there is a possibility that you are anemic. Anemia is a telling sign of cancer, including bone cancer.
It occurs with the scarcity of red blood cells in the body. As the bones weaken, the body produces white blood cells to combat the abnormal cells causing cancer in the body, which reduces the red blood cells count.
Mild anemia may not be as bothersome as moderate anemia, which can cause headaches and weakness.
8. Loss Of Appetite:
You might experience weight loss as the body remains exhausted all the time. When the cancerous tumor starts spreading in the body, you might lose your willingness to eat.
Food might begin tasting bad or lose its flavor. As the cancerous cells in the body suck all nutrients from the meal, it leaves you drained out and disinterested in food.
9. Disturbed Sleep:
Trouble in sleeping or disturbed sleep is another symptom of bone cancer. This symptom occurs because of episodes of pain in the bones. You can have difficulty falling asleep.
You might also wake up multiple times in the night. Once you wake up in the middle of the night, you might lay awake.
10. Fatigue:
As with other types of cancer, bone cancer leads to fatigue and weakness. This symptom can certainly impact your quality of life. Physical and mental fatigue with any underlying cause can be a sign of a condition like cancer. You may have persistent tiredness for a long period of time.
Diagnoses
Bone cancer can be preliminary diagnose with the analysis of bone X-ray or MRI image. An X-ray image provides a low-priced diagnostic tool for diagnosis and visualization of bone cancer as compared to MRI.
We recommend you to take your doctor’s advice for proper guidance and discuss these symptoms with your doctor.
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