Bone Cancer Awareness Month, What causes bone cancer?
Bone cancer is a very rare cancer which can prove fatal if not detected and treated on time. Therefore, it is important to know the causes of this cancer and its risk factors so that it can be detected on time and better treatment can be done. Let's know about this from the doctor.
Bone Cancer Awareness Month
Cancer cases are increasing rapidly among the youth in India. Due to this, many people die every year. Therefore, it is very important to treat cancer on time, so that as many lives as possible can be saved. Although there are many types of cancer, but one of its most dangerous types is bone cancer. Bone cancer is a rare type of cancer, which starts from the bones.
People often consider the symptoms of this cancer to be the cause of some other problem and ignore it. Due to this, this cancer can also spread to other parts of the body, which can prove fatal. That is why every year the month of July is celebrated as Bone Cancer Awareness Month, so that people know about the causes, symptoms and risk factors of bone cancer. To know about this, we spoke to Dr. Raman Narang (Senior Consultant, Department of Medical Oncology, Andromeda Cancer Hospital). Let's know what he said about this.
Dr. Narang said that bone cancer is a very rare type of cancer that starts in the bones. It can affect any bone in the body, but mostly occurs in the long bones of the arms and legs. With the help of its symptoms, causes and risk factors, it can be detected early and also helps a lot in its better treatment.
What causes bone cancer?
The exact cause of bone cancer has not yet been determined. However, certain factors do increase the risk. These include genetic changes that lead to abnormal cell growth. Apart from this, previous radiation therapy, Li-Fraumeni syndrome and retinoblastoma also increase the risk significantly.
It can be identified with the help of some of its common symptoms. The symptoms of bone cancer depend on which bone of the body it has occurred in. Also, its symptoms also depend on the size of the tumor. Persistent bone pain, swelling, difficulty in moving the affected part and unexplained weight loss
What are the risk factors for bone cancer?
- Age- Most cases of bone cancer are found in children and young adults. Although it can occur at any age, people of this age are at a higher risk.
- Gender- Men are at a higher risk for certain types of bone cancer, such as osteosarcoma.
- Genetics- Certain genetic syndromes, such as hereditary retinoblastoma and Li-Fraumeni syndrome, increase the risk.
- Radiation therapy- Radiation therapy for the treatment of another cancer can also lead to bone cancer in the future.