In the final stages, bone cancer is harder to treat because it may have spread from the original site to other parts of the body, including the lungs. The outlook for someone with bone cancer depends mainly on whether the cancer has spread, and their general health and age.
Doctors can use a number of tests to diagnose bone cancer. These include x-rays, blood tests and a biopsy. During a biopsy, a surgeon removes a small sample of tissue from a bone tumor to check for cancer cells. They can do this by making a hole in the bone with a needle or cutting into the tissue with an excisional or incisional biopsy. The surgeon may also order a CT or MRI scan to help find out what type of cancer you have and how far it has spread.
The prognosis for a person with bone cancer depends on the type of cancer, how it has spread and how fast it is growing. Your doctor will give you a ‘prognosis’, which tells you how likely it is that the cancer will go away or come back and how well you are expected to do during treatment.
Treatment for primary bone cancer usually involves surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy. The type of treatment used depends on the type of cancer you have and where it is located. You will have regular check-ups for several years to ensure that the cancer is not coming back and to manage any side effects from treatment.
Radiation therapy is a treatment that uses high energy rays to kill cancer cells or prevent them from growing. It can be given before or after surgery, or on its own. You will have a specialist called a radiation oncologist who will prescribe and coordinate your radiation therapy.
Some bone cancers are more likely to spread to other parts of the body (metastasize) than others. Cancers that are more likely to spread to the bones include cancers of the breast, lung, prostate and thyroid; melanoma; and some forms of leukemia and lymphoma. Secondary bone cancer can develop from these tumours or from other types of cancer that have spread to the bones.
It can be very distressing to learn you have bone cancer. Your emotions are normal, and you might find it helpful to talk to a family member, friend or counsellor. It is also a good idea to join a support group. This can help you talk with other people who have had or are going through the same thing as you. You can get advice and support about what to expect, and find out about other ways to cope. You can also find out about local support services. For example, some hospitals have cancer support nurses who can help you with your emotional and practical needs. You might also find it useful to talk to a counsellor who specialises in working with people with cancer or other serious illnesses.
