Symptoms of Bone Cancer in Leg

The term Cancer covers a group of diseases in which abnormal cells divide without cause and control, in the process invading and harming other tissues. There are different types of cancer that can occur, and most are named according to the location they affect, however cancers of the bone are generally collectively referred to as sarcomas. Cancer that begins in the bone, is known as Primary Bone Cancer, as opposed to cancer that spreads to the bone, but originates elsewhere. Typically, this type of cancer is less common than cancer that spreads to the bone from another part of the body, which is referred to as secondary or metastatic bone cancer. There are typically three types of bone cancer, the first, Osteosarcoma affects the osteoid tissue, the hard tough part of the bone, and is most commonly seen in the bones of the upper arm and knee. The second, Chondrosarcoma begins in cartilaginous tissue, which line the ends of bones and pads joints. It is most commonly seen affecting the pelvis, upper leg and shoulder. The third is Ewing's Sarcoma, which generally affects the bone but can also infect the nerve tissue surrounding it, typically in the legs, arms or pelvis. Of these three types, Ewing's Sarcoma and Osteosarcoma are most often seen between the ages of 10 and 25, while Chondrosarcoma is most often seen in older patients. The symptoms of bone cancer in the leg generally do not manifest in an alarming manner, until they achieve an advanced stage, which makes these types of cancer particularly difficult to arrest early. Listed below are the possible warning signs.

Symptoms

As mentioned above, most symptoms arise when the cancer has advanced considerably. Symptoms that do arise, if at all, are often not unique to a particular disorder especially not one as serious as cancer, which makes self diagnosis and thereby misdiagnoses a very real concern. In addition, pain in the joints in young children can often be attributed to their active lifestyles and thereby brushed aside or dismissed. Most often, bone cancer symptoms will manifest in the form of pain in the affected leg or joint. The pain may be consistent and dull, like a persistent ache, or it may appear as an intermittent, sharp, jabbing pain. This pain may increase steadily, as the condition advances, but at the same time, may not show up at all for several weeks or months even when you have a malignant growth. In certain cases, if the tumor grows in appreciable size, there may be a lump like growth at the affected site. Sometimes, tumors residing on the bone may result in an increase in the levels of calcium in the blood, giving rise to feelings of nausea, and in certain cases, causing periods of mental confusion. In addition, the following symptoms may also manifest:

• Unexplained, persistent swelling or inflammation of the leg, especially when there is no recent history of trauma, or a possible explanation for the pain.
• Fever, chills
• Night sweats
• Unexplained and sudden weight loss
• Unexplained bone fractures, again, without any sign of trauma

Diagnosis and Treatment

Typically, your doctor will ask for some imaging tests to help in the diagnosis of your condition. X-rays, CT Scans and MRIs may be needed to arrive at a conclusive diagnosis, in addition to extensive checking of family history, since the incidence of some types of cancer amongst family may put you at higher risk. If these tests reveal a tumor, the next likely step is a biopsy to find out whether the tumor is benign or malignant.

The treatment can be approached in essentially three different ways. These are surgery, chemotherapy and radiation. Surgery focuses on removing the tumor and the part of the normal bone surrounding area, to completely reduce the risk of recurrence. After surgery, there may be periodic tests to ensure that no cancerous cells were left behind and the bone is normal. Chemotherapy uses medication to arrest the growth or to kill the cancer cells. It can also be used prior to surgery in order to make the tumor easier to reduce. Radiation therapy uses high energy X-rays directed at the cancer site to kill cancer cells. Unfortunately, each of these three methods do come with side effects - surgery may not completely remove the tumor, chemotherapy uses harsh and strong medication that can affect normal body processes, and radiation can cause fatigue, loss of appetite and affect surrounding tissue.

Although the symptoms of bone cancer in the leg are not always easy to identify, it's important to pay attention to warning signs. Education about possible signals will help keep you aware of when you need to pay your doctor a visit. Primary bone cancer is rare and the incidence of a tumor does not mean that it will be cancerous. Medical advances in technology and treatment facilities are improving everyday, so keep your spirits up. Always remember to take the advice of your doctor and discuss your options clearly.