The Effect of Bone Cancer

Arranged by Abraham Steven William Gunawan – XI Science

NCDs or usually known as chronic disease stands for Noncommunicable
diseases. NCDs account for over 71% from the total of over 57 million deaths
globally, in other words NCDs causes over 41 million deaths annually. Main types
of noncommunicable diseases are cardiovascular disease1 (for example heart
attacks and stroke) that kills over 17.9 million people annually, cancers that kills
over 9.3 million people annually, respiratory disease that kills 4.1 million peope
annually and diabetes2 that kills 1.5 million people annually. Shown from the facts
above, cancers is one of the most dangerous noncommunicable disease that
account for over 9.3 million lives annually. Cancers itself is caused by some
factors, but most types of cancer is caused by gene3 mutation4. But in this essay,
the author will focusing on what are the effects caused by bone cancer. Bone
cancer itself happened when the DNA 5 is formed incorrectly or abnormally 6, this
causes bone cells7 to develop uncontrollably and grow in large numbers. These
uncontrolled bone cells gather into a malignant tumor that can spread to other
tissues8. Bone cancer is also divided into two types depending on how the cancer
starts. Primary bone cancers happens if the bone cancer starts in the bone.
Secondary bone cancers happens when the cancer started from another part of the

1
disease: disorder of structure or function in a human, animal, or plant, especially one that has a
known cause and a distinctive group of symptoms, signs, or anatomical changes
2
Diabetes: disease in which the body’s ability to produce or respond to the hormone insulin is
impaired, resulting in abnormal metabolism of carbohydrates and elevated levels of glucose in
the blood.
3
Gene: a unit of heredity which is transferred from a parent to offspring and is held to determine
some characteristic of the offspring:
4
Mutation: the changing of the structure of a gene, resulting in a variant form that may be
transmitted to subsequent generations, caused by the alteration of single base units in DNA, or
the deletion, insertion, or rearrangement of larger sections of genes or chromosomes
5
DNA: a self-replicating material that is present in nearly all living organisms as the main
constituent of chromosomes. It is the carrier of genetic information.
6
Abnormally: in a manner that deviates from what is normal or usual; irregularly or
extraordinarily
7
Cell: the smallest structural and functional unit of an organism, which is typically microscopic
and consists of cytoplasm and a nucleus enclosed in a membrane.
8
Tissue: any of the distinct types of material of which animals or plants are made, consisting of
specialized cells and their products
human body but has now spread (metastasised 9) to the tissues of the bone. Primary
bone cancers begins and grows as a tumor 10. The bone tumor are either
noncancerous or cancerous. Noncancerous tumors don’t spread beyond their
original source. Different from noncancerous tumors, cancerous tumors spread
beyond their original site, more aggressive and have a higher probability of
growing and spreading beyond its original site. Some types of noncancerous bone
tumors are osteoma, osteoid osteoma, osteochondroma, enchondroma, aneurysmal
bone cyst and fibrous dysplasia of the bone. Example of cancerous bone tumors
are osteosarcoma, chondrosarcoma, Ewing’s sarcoma, malignant fibrous
histiocytoma, fibrosarcoma, chordoma and some other types of sarcoma. For
adult, secondary bone cancers are the most common. Secondary bone cancers
develop when cancer cells from another tissues of the body spreads to the bone.
Most of cancer cells from another part of the body can spread and increase the risk
bone cancer from happening. In addition, people with breast cancer and prostate
cancer unfortunately have a particularly higher probability of developing
secondary bone cancer compares to the other types of cancer. Bone cancer mostly
can cause pain, fractures and also hypercalcemia11.

First effect of the bone cancer is pain. Pain is the most common sign of
cancer of the spine or other bones. Initially, this pain appears unconscious.
However, over time the pain will become more intense, worsening at night, or
when you are active. As the cancer has progressed, the pain can be felt all the
time and the pain may become more constant, and may get worse with activity.
Sometimes the tumor can weaken the bone until it breaks (fractures), which can
cause sudden onset of intense pain.

9
Metastasised: spread to other sites in the body by metastasis
10
Tumor: a swelling of a part of the body, generally without inflammation, caused by an
abnormal growth of tissue, whether benign or malignant.
11
Hypercalcemia: an excess of calcium in the blood
 The next symptom that is often experienced by many cancer patients is
inflammation12. Inflammation occurs when a tumor in the bone causes swelling 13
in a nearby area. Bone cancer does not always cause swelling, and the degree and
severity of the swelling will depend on each case. If the tumor is in an area with a
lot of body tissue and nerves14, inflammation is more likely to occur. The affected
area will often feel tender and painful, and the surrounding skin may look red.
Over-the-counter and prescription15 drugs16 are the most common ways to treat
inflammation.

Last symptom that usually shown by bone cancer patients is that the bone
affected by bone cancer will become weak over time. As the tumor grows, the
affected bone becomes weaker and breaks or fractures more often. As a result,
bone damage can lead to fractures with little or no stress17. Even simple actions
that seem usual, such as standing or leaning on something, can cause a bone to
break. In addition, bone cancer can spread to nearby areas, causing them to
become weak as well. Many people find bone cancer due to a minor fall or
injury18; if you have recently had a fracture, consult your doctor for more
information related to the condition of your bones.

Bone cancer can cause human some effects. Some effects that bone cancer
patients usually shows is pain in the area of the bone cancer, the pain shown will
become more intense over time, become more constant and may breaks the
weakened bone that can cause sudden intense pain. Bone cancer can also causes
inflammation when a tumor in the bone causes swelling in a nearby area.

12
Inflammation: localized physical condition in which part of the body becomes reddened,
swollen, hot, and often painful, especially as a reaction to injury or infection
13
Swelling: an abnormal enlargement of a part of the body, typically as a result of an
accumulation of fluid: painless swellings may appear in the lower abdomen
14
Nerves:a whitish fibre or bundle of fibres in the body that transmits impulses of sensation to
the brain or spinal cord, and impulses from these to the muscles and organs
15
Prescription: an instruction written by a medical practitioner that authorizes a patient to be
issued with a medicine or treatment
16
Drugs: a medicine or other substance which has a physiological effect when ingested or
otherwise introduced into the body
17
Stress: pressure or tension exerted on a material object: the distribution of stress is uniform
across the bar
18
Injury: an instance of being injured
Although inflammation does not always appear, if the tumor is in an area that has
a lot of body tissue and nerves, inflammation is more likely to occur. Weakened
bone is also shown over time as a cause of growing tumors and become more
likely to fractures, even a simple actions that normal, such as standing or leaning
on something can cause a bone to break. Almost all of us certainly do not want to
experience this disorder19. But what if we have this disorder? Advances in the
medical field have reduced the symptoms of the disease. Some treatment we can
get to treat the bone cancer is do an operation. This procedure aims to remove
cancer cells from the body. That way, the cancer doesn’t spread to other areas.
Sometimes in severe cases, this treatment can end in amputation of the leg or
hand. After the amputation20 is performed, further surgery to reconstruct the new
limb is possible to be done. This medical procedure is called a rotationplasty.
Other treatment to bone cancer like chemotherapy and radiotherapy are known
effective, but this treatment can cause some symptoms such as hair loss, body
fatigue, nausea and vomiting, and mouth sores.

References:

World Health Organization. “Noncommunicable Diseases.” Www.who.int, World

Health Organization, 13 Apr. 2021,
www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/noncommunicable-diseases.

Puji, Aprinda. “Kanker Tulang: Penyebab, Gejala, Hingga Pengobatan.”

Hellosehat.com, Hello Health Group, 3 Sept. 2021, hellosehat.com/kanker/kanker-
tulang/penyakit-kanker-tulang/.

NHS. “Bone Cancer.” NHS.uk, Crown, 20 June 2021,

www.nhs.uk/conditions/bone-cancer/

19
Disorder: an illness or condition that disrupts normal physical or mental functions

20
Amputation: the action of surgically cutting off a limb
Mika. “10 Symptoms of Bone Cancer – Facty Health.” Facty.com, Assembly
Technologies, 17 Mar. 2021, facty.com/conditions/cancer/10-symptoms-of-bone-
cancer/3/?da=true&daInit=1.l

Felman, Adam, and Yamini Ranchod. “Bone Cancer: Survival Rate, Causes,
Types, and Treatment.” Www.medicalnewstoday.com, Healthline Media, 19 Aug.
2019, www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/171372#types