Bone cancer is also known as bone sarcoma. This rare form of cancer begins in the bones. It is observed that about 0.2 percent of total cancer cases involve bone sarcoma. It is estimated that nearly 3,600 bone cancer cases are reported annually in the United States. This form of cancer is common among both men and women. Generally, people between 15 and 19 years are more prone to bone cancer. Here’s all you need to know about this disease.

Causes
The main cause of bone cancer is not known. However, several factors increase the risk of this form of cancer. In most cases, hereditary factors, such as inherited gene mutation, are common risk factors. Here are some of the other common risk factors.

• Inherited genetic disorder
  The risk of bone cancer increases substantially with specific rare genetic disorders. Hereditary retinoblastoma and Li-Fraumeni syndrome are some diseases that are passed down in a family and can cause bone cancer.
• Radiation therapy for cancer
  Prolonged exposure to radiation therapy for other cancer types has a prominent side effect; it increases bone sarcoma risk.
• Paget’s disease of bone
  This disease is generally observed in adults. It is another significant risk factor for bone cancer.

Symptoms
One of the most prominent symptoms of bone cancer is bone pain. It generally starts as tenderness in the affected bone. The pain progresses from acute to persistent chronic pain. Some of the other common symptoms include the following.

• Swelling and tenderness in the area surrounding the bone
• A lump on or around the affected area
• Frequent fractures in the affected bone
• Persistent fever
• Sudden and unexplained weight loss
• Night sweats
  

Types of bone cancer
Bone sarcoma is a group of primary bone cancer. This type of cancer begins in a bone, muscle, blood vessel or fat, and connective tissue. The common types of this cancer are as follows.

• Osteosarcoma
• Chondrosarcoma
• Ewing tumor
• Fibrosarcoma and malignant fibrous histiocytoma
• Giant cell tumor of bone
• Metastatic bone cancer
• Chordoma
  

Treatment options
The treatment for bone cancer depends on the stage of cancer, the type, and overall health. These are some of the common treatment options recommended by doctors. A health expert can recommend only one treatment or a combination of treatments depending on the stage of cancer and the severity of the symptoms.

• Radiation therapy
  High-powered beams are used to kill off cancerous cells. This therapy is usually used along with surgery. It shrinks the cancerous tumor enabling easy removal through surgery.
• Chemotherapy
  Chemotherapy, using strong anti-cancer medications, aims to kill cancerous cells. The medications are administered intravenously.
• Surgery
  The entire chunk of the tumor, along with some healthy cells surrounding the cancerous tumor, is removed through surgery. This is done to lower the risk of remission. The tumor-affected bone is removed and replaced by another bone in the body, with material from a bone bank or metal/plastic replacement.
  

Diet
Although there is no specific diet for bone cancer, certain foods can alleviate the pain and discomfort caused by the symptoms. Similarly, avoiding certain foods can help in the healing process. Usually, it is best to have a well-balanced diet with whole grains, healthy fats, protein-rich foods, antioxidant-rich fruits, and veggies.

Home remedies
Like any other form of cancer, bone cancer does not have any home remedies. However, one can take certain measures to alleviate the discomfort caused by the disease’s symptoms. Having a well-balanced diet and adopting healthy lifestyle habits can also increase the various treatments’ effectiveness.