Bone cancer care

At Advocate Cancer Institute, we know that every bone cancer patient is different. Our cancer experts have extensive experience in properly staging and diagnosing the disease, and developing a treatment plan that's tailored to your specific type of bone cancer.

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Symptoms & risk factors

Bone cancer occurs in the body when a malignant tumor forms within bone cells. Bone tumors can take several forms, from the most common type, non-cancerous (benign) tumors in the bones to the more rare primary bones tumors, which can either be benign or malignant. Generally, bone cancer originates from elsewhere in the body, as a secondary cancer that spreads to the bones. Fortunately, primary bone cancers are not common and account for far less than 1% of all cancers.

Bone cancers are more common in children and younger adults than in older people. Risk factors include:

• Previous treatment with radiation therapy
• Previous chemotherapy with drugs known as alkylating agents
• Mutation in a gene known as the retinoblastoma (Rb) gene or other genes
• Associated conditions, such as hereditary retinoblastoma, Paget's disease of bone, Li-Fraumeni syndrome, Rothmund-Thomson syndrome, tuberous sclerosis, and Diamond-Blackfan anemia
• Implantation of metal to repair previous fractures

The most common symptom of bone cancer is pain, although that is not always the primary symptom. Persistent or unusual pain/swelling in or near a bone can be caused by cancer. Bone cancer patients usually complain of pain that worsens at night or when that particular body part is in use. Bone fractures that occur from slight injuries and masses or lumps in the affected areas are also symptoms that should be brought to a doctor’s attention.

Detection & diagnosis

To help diagnose bone cancer, the experts at Advocate Health Care will conduct a thorough personal and family medical history along with a physical examination and may order laboratory and other diagnostic tests. These tests may include:

• X-rays: Can show the location, size, and shape of a bone tumor. If x-rays suggest abnormalities, the doctor will likely recommend specialized imaging tests. Even if x-rays suggest a benign abnormality, your doctor may want to do further tests, especially if the patient is experiencing unusual or persistent pain.
• Bone scan: Test in which a small amount of radioactive material is injected into a blood vessel and travels through the bloodstream; it then collects in the bones and is detected by a scanner.
• Computed tomography (CT or CAT) scan: Series of detailed pictures of areas inside the body, taken from different angles, that are created by a computer linked to an x-ray machine.
• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI): Uses a powerful, computer-linked magnet to create detailed pictures of areas inside the body without using x-rays.
• Positron emission tomography (PET) scan: A small amount of radioactive glucose (sugar) is injected into a vein, and a scanner is used to make detailed, digital pictures of areas inside the body where glucose is used. Because cancer cells often use more glucose than normal cells, they can be detected with this method.
• Angiogram: X-ray of blood vessels for detailed analysis.
• Biopsy: Process for the removal of a tissue sample from the bone tumor, which is then used to determine whether cancer is present. The surgeon may perform a needle biopsy or an incisional biopsy.
• Blood tests: Determines the level of an enzyme called alkaline phosphatase. A large amount of this enzyme is present in the blood when the cells that form bone tissue are very active – when children are growing, when a broken bone is mending, or when a disease or tumor causes production of abnormal bone tissue. Because high levels of alkaline phosphatase are normal in growing children and adolescents, this test is not a completely reliable indicator of bone cancer.

Treatments & therapies

Treatment options depend on the type, size, location, and stage of the cancer, as well as the person’s age and general health.

Surgery is the usual treatment for bone cancer. The surgeon removes the entire tumor, and may also use special techniques to minimize the amount of healthy tissue removed with the tumor.

At Advocate Health Care, preoperative tumor treatments have made it possible for most patients with bone cancer in an arm or leg to avoid limb removal. But, most patients who undergo limb-sparing surgery need reconstructive surgery to maximize limb function.

Along with surgery, the cancer experts at Advocate offer other specialized treatment plans, including:

• Chemotherapy: The use of anticancer drugs to kill cancer cells. Patients who have bone cancer usually receive a combination of anticancer drugs. However, chemotherapy is not currently used to treat chondrosarcoma.
• Radiation therapy: Involves the use of high-energy x-rays to kill cancer cells. This treatment may be used in combination with surgery. It is often used to treat chondrosarcoma, which cannot be treated with chemotherapy. It may also be used for patients who refuse surgery.
• Cryosurgery: The use of liquid nitrogen to freeze and kill cancer cells. This technique can sometimes be used instead of conventional surgery to destroy the tumor.

Support for every step

We’re committed to caring for the whole you, and providing the resources you and your loved ones need to manage a cancer diagnosis. You’ll find a full range of free or low-cost cancer support services – from education to rehabilitation, nutritional to spiritual counseling, support groups and more empowering programs that put you in control of your care.