If you or your loved one has been diagnosed with a bone cancer - Peter Mac is here to help.
Bone cancer, also called bone sarcoma, is a cancer that can grow in any bone of the body. Bones like the rest of the human body are living tissue made up of living cells.
There are two types of bone cancer and they are very different.
- Primary bone cancer. This cancer starts in the bone itself, either on the inside or outside of the bone.
- Secondary bone cancer. This cancer has started somewhere else in the body and has spread to the bone(s). This is also called 'metastatic bone cancer'.
The most common symptom of bone cancer is pain in the bone and joints. This pain becomes constant and may not get better with mild painkillers such as Panadol. Often it is worse at night and when being active.
Other symptoms can include:
- bone or joint swelling in the area of pain
- possibly a lump or mass in the area of bone or joint pain
- stiff or tender bone
- problems with movement
- unexplained weight loss
- loss of feeling in the affected limb
- feeling tired.
Most people having any of the above symptoms do not have bone cancer. These symptoms can also be due to other less serious conditions such as joint strain, injury or arthritis.
Only a doctor can tell if you have bone cancer. If you have any of these symptoms for more than two weeks, you should see your GP (local family doctor).
Your first tests for diagnosis
Placing you at the centre of our work, your specialist will determine where your cancer started (what type of cell) and what type of bone cancer it is.
Bone cancer can be either:
- Primary bone cancer is rare and there are more than 30 different types of this cancer disease.
- Secondary bone cancer is more common. This cancer is metastatic, which means it started in another place of the body and has travelled to the bone(s).
To determine your condition, our experts will work with you and support you through a medical examination and other key tests such as:
- Pathology (blood tests)
- Imaging (scans and x-rays)
- Biopsy.
Diagnosis
As the largest bone and soft tissue sarcoma service in Australia, we are dedicated to providing you with the best testing and treatment for bone cancer.
We will design and work to a diagnosis and treatment plan that best responds to your condition and individual needs.
To diagnose bone cancer we will take:
- x-rays, bone scans and MRIs. This will be done first to show the exact size and place of the cancer.
- a bone biopsy which is a small sample of cells from the affected bone area. This sample will be tested for cancer cells. If present, there will be further testing to identify the exact disease.
Focusing on you (treatment)
Your Peter Mac doctor will discuss and develop the best treatment plan for you. Treatments will depend on your diagnosis.
Bone cancer treatment will depend on:
- the type of disease it is
- whether it has spread and how far (its stage)
- your general health and wellbeing
- your needs.
For most types of bone cancer,surgery is the main treatment. It is used to remove the cancer, surrounding bone tissue and/or other infected areas such as lymph nodes.
At Peter Mac, our expert surgeons always aim to spare the limb where possible. This is called 'limb-sparing' surgery. This surgery means to remove the area of bone affected by the cancer and if needed replace this with a bone from another part of the body or with an artificial (fake) bone or joint usually made of metal.
Additional treatments to surgery may involve:
- chemotherapy (anti-cancer drugs) to help shrink the cancer cells before surgery or to destroy the cancer cells after surgery.
- radiation therapy (strong and powerful beams of radiation/energy to kill and/or slow cancer cells) either before or after surgery or both.
- clinical trials or
- a combination of these.
Treatment for secondary bone cancer is different to treatment for primary bone cancer. Secondary bone cancer treatments need to consider where the cancer started (primary source) and this treatment will be based on this.
For example: a secondary bone cancer that has come from a primary lung cancer, may receive the same treatment as lung cancer. This will all depend on the disease and its stage as well as your needs.
Enhancing your care (after treatment)
After effective treatment, patients will continue to see their specialist every three months. These visits are used to monitor your health and may include tests such as pathology, imaging (scans and x-rays) and small biopsies. Your specialist will discuss the best follow-up plan for you.
Living with cancer
We know how hard cancer and treatment can be. Your lifestyle and that of your loved one's will be disrupted and changed. During this time, it is common to struggle with ongoing concerns about cancer and therapy. There are many expert groups available to support you through this time, including:
Support
At Peter Mac, we focus on all aspects of your health and wellbeing. Our sarcoma experts will help support and guide you to the best information and managed care.
Our specialist nurses can refer you to our:
PATIENT AND CARER RESOURCES
For more information about bone cancers and their treatment download a copy of Cancer Council Victoria's fact sheet:
