Fans of boxing are familiar with him. However, if you aren’t a fan of boxing, you might not be familiar with Daniel Jacobs. This boxing professional has won the middleweight world title twice. His life is interesting, and not simply for his outstanding sports accomplishments. Daniel Jacobs has also battled cancer.
Daniel received the diagnosis of osteosarcoma, a rare and severe bone cancer, in 2011. His spine’s nerves were harmed by it. His legs were partially paralyzed as a result. His ability to walk again was unknown to the doctors. But Daniel was able to fully recover in less than two years. The World Boxing Association and the International Boxing Federation later awarded him championship titles. The Miracle Man is his nick name.
Since July is Sarcoma and Bone Cancer Awareness Month, it seems appropriate to acknowledge Daniel’s story at this time. It’s also a good moment to discuss bone cancer, risk factors, and available treatments.
Metastasis, or the transfer of cancer from another part of the body to the bone, is a common cause of bone cancer. There are also primary malignancies of the bone, such as the osteosarcoma found in Daniel Jacobs. It is not very common to get primary bone cancer. Every year, 2 out of every 1,000 new cases of cancer in the United States are due to it.
There are various forms of bone cancer, which vary depending on where they develop:
- The most prevalent form of bone cancer is osteosarcoma. It frequently manifests in the upper arm or knee.
- Beginning in cartilaginous tissue, chondrosarcoma. It may have several characteristics that alter the prognosis. Dedifferentiated chondrosarcoma, clear cell chondrosarcoma, and mesenchymal chondrosarcoma are three examples of the prognosis.
- The backbone, pelvis, arms, or legs are the areas of the body where Ewing sarcoma most frequently develops.
- Instead of the bones, malignant fibrous histiocytoma frequently begins in the soft tissue (connective tissue). It affects the arms or legs and spreads fast to other regions of the body when it forms in the bones.
- Both benign and malignant giant cell tumors of the bone can arise, but malignant forms are incredibly uncommon.
- A tumor known as a chordoma can develop at the base of the skull or the vertebrae in the spine. It develops slowly and frequently does not extend to other bodily regions. It will, however, reappear in the same place if it is not deleted.
In the United States, it’s anticipated that more than 13,000 cases of soft tissue sarcoma and around 3,600 instances of bone sarcoma would be identified in 2021.
Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results Program of the National Cancer Institute
Scientists are discovering more about the causes of bone cancer, which is contributing to our growing understanding of the disease. The following are typical illness risk factors:
- genetic conditions like the Multiple Exostoses Syndrome, the Rothmund-Thomson Syndrome, and the Li-Fraumeni Syndrome.
- exposure to radiation or radioactive substances like strontium and radium. Due to mineral buildup in the bones, this may result in bone cancer.
The type of bone cancer you have, its stage, your general health, and your personal preferences will all affect your treatment options. If you have any questions about your therapy or the phrases your healthcare providers are using, don’t hesitate to ask them.
Prior to starting therapy, it is beneficial to be aware of any adverse effects and symptoms. To help treat common side effects like nausea, diarrhea, constipation, and mouth sores, there are helpful drugs that are easily accessible. Remember that every person responds to treatment in a unique way. Discuss any side effects you have with your healthcare professional.
Bone cancer treatment options include:
- Surgery the main method of treating bone cancer. In order to ensure that no further cancer cells are discovered at the edge or border of the tissue removed, the tumor must be completely eliminated.
- Cryosurgery
- the freezing and killing of cancer cells with liquid nitrogen.
- Chemotherapy is a systemic (whole-body) treatment approach that uses medications to eradicate cancer cells. Patients with bone cancer typically get a cocktail of chemotherapy medications. Ewing sarcoma and osteosarcoma are frequently treated with chemotherapy, although other bone malignancies like chondrosarcoma are rarely treated with it.
- radiation treatment
- the use of powerful radiation to harm or kill cancer cells. Surgery and this treatment could be combined. It is frequently employed to treat chondrosarcoma, which cannot be surgically treated. It may also be used in conjunction with chemotherapy and potentially surgery to treat Ewing sarcoma.
In This Article...
Is a ribbon available for bone cancer?
Sarcoma or bone cancer is represented with a yellow ribbon. Different forms of bone cancer exist. Sarcoma can affect the body’s connective tissues, including the cartilage and myofascial tissue, as well as the bones.
Organizations like the Sarcoma Foundation of America support funding for research and raise public awareness of the condition.
What represents bone cancer?
Bone cancer is represented by the yellow ribbon, which is often used as a fundraising emblem. One method to raise awareness and express support for bone cancer survivors and their caregivers is to wear a yellow ribbon. July is also recognized as Bone Cancer Awareness Month.
Who is most susceptible to bone cancer?
Race/ethnicity African Americans and Hispanics/Latinos are slightly more likely than white people to develop osteosarcoma in the United States.
What is the bone cancer survival rate?
THIS PAGE CONTAINS INFORMATION REGARDING THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO RECEIVE A BONE SARCOMA DIAGNOSIS EACH YEAR. Additionally, you’ll learn general information on battling the illness. Recall that a number of factors affect survival rates. To view additional pages, use the navigation.
Primary bone sarcoma is a type of cancer that originates in the bone, as stated in the Introduction. Bone sarcomas are the main cancer in less than 1% of all cases of cancer. Adults are far more likely to have cancer that has progressed to their bones from another part of their body. The numbers listed below pertain to primary bone sarcoma.
In the United States, primary bone sarcoma will be diagnosed in an expected 3,910 people of all ages (2,160 men and boys and 1,750 women and girls). 400 of these cases were anticipated to occur in people between the ages of 15 and 19 in 2020.
In the United States, it is anticipated that this disease will cause 2,100 deaths this year (1,180 deaths in men and boys and 920 deaths in women and girls).
The majority of primary bone sarcomas in adults are chondrosarcomas. Osteosarcoma, chordoma, and Ewing sarcoma are the next most frequent types of bone sarcoma in adults. The remaining bone sarcoma varieties are uncommon.
Osteosarcoma and Ewing sarcoma are diagnosed far more frequently in adolescents and children than chondrosarcoma and other bone tumors.
The percentage of persons who survive at least 5 years after their cancer is discovered is shown by the 5-year survival rate. Percentage refers to the number out of 100. The type and stage of bone sarcoma that is detected affects survival rates in the United States, among other things.
The 5-year survival rate for chordoma patients is 82%. The 5-year survival rate for cancer patients who receive a localized diagnosis is 87 percent. The 5-year survival rate is 83% if the disease has progressed to the local lymph nodes, adjacent tissues, or organs. The 5-year survival rate is only 55% if the cancer has migrated to distant body areas.
Chondrosarcoma comes in various forms. Some grow slowly (low grade), whereas others grow more quickly (high grade). The rates listed here are the average for all chondrosarcoma types. People with chondrosarcoma have a 78% 5-year survival rate. The 5-year survival rate for cancer patients who receive a localized diagnosis is 91 percent. The 5-year survival rate is 75% if the cancer has spread to nearby tissues or organs and/or the local lymph nodes. The 5-year survival rate is 22% if the cancer has migrated to distant body parts.
For those with Ewing sarcoma, the 5-year survival rate is 61 percent. The 5-year survival rate for cancer patients who receive a localized diagnosis is 81 percent. The 5-year survival rate is 67 percent if the cancer has spread to nearby organs, tissues, or lymph nodes. The 5-year survival rate is 38% if the cancer has progressed to distant areas of the body.
60 percent of patients with osteosarcoma survive the disease for five years. The 5-year survival rate is 74% if cancer is detected while it is localized. The 5-year survival rate is 66% if the cancer has progressed to the local lymph nodes, adjacent tissues, or organs. The 5-year survival rate is 27% if the cancer has progressed to distant areas of the body.
It’s critical to keep in mind that estimates of the survival rates for persons with bone sarcoma might vary widely based on a number of variables. It is crucial to speak openly about this with your doctor. The estimate is based on annual data on the number of Americans who have this cancer. Additionally, every five years, experts measure the survival rates. This means that the estimate might not account for improvements in the last five years in the diagnosis or treatment of bone sarcoma. If you have any questions concerning this material, consult your doctor. Find out more about how to comprehend statistics.
The American Cancer Society’s (ACS) publications Cancer Facts & Figures 2022 and Cancer Facts & Figures 2020, as well as the ACS website, were used to compile the statistics. (Accessed January 2022 for all sources.)
What are the chances of developing bone cancer?
Bone cancer is frequently effectively treated. In such cases, cancer never reappears. In other cases, many operations are required to achieve this result.
To prevent the disease from spreading, additional patients with bone cancer may need to continue receiving chemotherapy and radiation therapy. To control cancer, these treatments can continue continuously.
It’s critical to follow up with your doctor on a frequent basis to search for symptoms of cancer recurrence or spread. A recurrence can be treated as soon as it is discovered, assuming it is early enough.
Is bone cancer usually fatal?
Not typically. Bone cancer will cause some people to pass away, but many more people will fully recover. The relative survival rate for bone cancer at five years is 66.8%. This indicates that 66.8% of those who are diagnosed with bone cancer survive five years after their diagnosis. Remember that survival numbers are simply approximations based on patients who have already had bone cancer. They are unable to foretell your lifespan or the specifics of your circumstance. Speak with your healthcare physician to learn more about the survival statistics for bone cancer.
How long can you live with bone cancer?
Many patients who are diagnosed with bone cancer receive excellent therapy and go on to have happy lives. Early-stage bone cancer patients have a better chance of making a full recovery. The likelihood of survival declines with later diagnosis of bone cancer.
What type of bone cancer is the rarest?
Adamantinoma. Rare bone cancer known as adamantinoma nearly often affects the bones in the lower leg. Approximately 1% of all bone sarcomas are adamantinomas.
How quickly can bone cancer spread?
Bone metastasis is the term used to describe the spread of malignancy to the bones. Because the cancer did not begin in the bones, it is sometimes known as secondary bone cancer or metastatic bone disease.
People with advanced cancer or those who have already received a cancer diagnosis are more likely to develop bone metastases. However, a bone metastasis may occasionally cause pain before a cancer diagnosis is made.
Bone metastasis is frequently a sign that the cancer has spread to an advanced stage where it is incurable. However, not all bone metastases advances quickly. In certain instances, it develops more gradually and may be managed carefully as a chronic condition.
Although bone metastasis may not be curable, treatment may increase longevity and improve health.
Uncertainty surrounds the precise mechanism by which cancer cells spread to the bones. It is a field of study that is quite active. New techniques of treatment are continuously being developed as a result of growing knowledge about metastasis.
Where typically does bone cancer begin?
Bone sarcomas are another name for primary bone malignancies, which are tumours that originate in the bone itself. (Sarcomas are tumors that develop in a variety of tissues, including bone, muscle, fibrous tissue, blood vessels, adipose tissue, and others. The body can develop them anyplace.)
Osteosarcoma
The most prevalent primary bone cancer is osteosarcoma, sometimes referred to as osteogenic sarcoma. It begins in the earliest stages of bone cells. Approximately 1 in 10 cases of osteosarcoma develop in adults over 60, although it most frequently affects young people between the ages of 10 and 30. It’s uncommon in middle-aged persons and more prevalent in men than women. These tumors typically form in the arms, legs, or pelvic bones.
On our Bone Cancer section, this type of cancer is not further covered. See Osteosarcoma for additional details.
Ewing tumor (Ewing sarcoma)
Ewing tumors are the third most frequent type of primary bone cancer worldwide and the second most frequent type in adolescents, teenagers, and young adults. Adults above the age of 30 rarely get these malignancies. They are more common in white people and uncommon among Asian and African Americans.
Although they can begin in other tissues and organs, Ewing tumors typically develop in the bones. The hip (pelvic) bones, the bones of the spine, the long bones of the legs, and the bones in the chest wall (such as the ribs or shoulder blades) are where this cancer most frequently develops.
On our Bone Cancer section, this type of cancer is not further covered. See Ewing Family of Tumors for additional information.
Chondrosarcoma
In the earliest stages of cartilage cells, chondrosarcoma begins. The second most typical primary bone cancer is this one. Chondrosarcoma is uncommon in adults under the age of 20, and the risk increases with age.
Anywhere there is cartilage, chondrosarcomas can begin. The majority grow in bones like the legs, arms, or pelvic (hip) bones. Some begin in the skull, larynx, shoulder blades, chest wall, or ribs.
Chondrosarcomas are less frequent than benign (non-cancerous) tumors of the cartilage, such as enchondromas and osteochondromas. Rarely do these benign tumors progress to malignancy. There is a tiny increase in risk for cancer in people with several of these tumors, although it is uncommon.
Chondrosarcomas are graded on a scale of 1 (I) to 3 (III), based on how quickly they are predicted to grow. The likelihood that a cancer will spread and grow more slowly depends on its grade:
- Atypical cartilaginous tumors, also known as low-grade (grade I) chondrosarcomas, have the tendency to grow slowly and are extremely unlikely to spread.
- Chondrosarcomas of intermediate grade (grade II) have a somewhat higher propensity to metastasize.
- The most prone to propagate chondrosarcomas are those with a high grade (grade III).
Uncommon subtypes of chondrosarcoma
A few chondrosarcomas have distinguishing characteristics that can be seen under a microscope. They frequently have a different prognosis (outlook), including:
- Dedifferentiated chondrosarcomas initially manifest as common chondrosarcomas, but later develop some areas of the tumor that resemble high-grade sarcomas (such as an osteosarcoma, fibrosarcoma, or high-grade undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma). This particular chondrosarcoma grows more quickly than the majority of other chondrosarcomas and typically appears in older persons.
- Younger persons are more likely to develop mesenchymal chondrosarcomas. They frequently develop quickly and are more likely to return following treatment.
- Chondrosarcomas with clear cells are uncommon and frequently grow slowly. Unless they have repeatedly returned to the initial spot, they rarely spread to other parts of the body.
High-grade undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma (UPS) of bone
Previously known as bone malignant fibrous histiocytoma (MFH), this malignancy. Soft tissues are where undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma (UPS) most frequently begins (connective tissues such as ligaments, tendons, fat, and muscle). It seldom affects bones, but when it does, it typically affects the arms or legs, especially around the knees. Adults in their middle years and older are most likely to develop this malignancy. Children rarely develop it. It usually spreads just locally, although on occasion it might reach distant body areas like the lungs.
Fibrosarcoma of bone
Another form of cancer that arises more frequently in soft tissues than in bones is fibrosarcoma. Middle-aged adults are typically affected by it. The most commonly affected bones are those in the jaw, arms, and legs.
Giant cell tumor of bone
Primary bone tumors of this kind can either be benign (not cancer) or malignant. The benign variant is more prevalent. People in their 20s and 30s are more likely to develop these malignancies.
Arms or legs, typically towards the knees, are the most common sites for giant cell bone tumors. Although they don’t frequently spread to remote regions of the body, after surgery they may return (even more than once) to the original site. Each time the tumor returns, the likelihood that it may spread to other bodily regions increases a little (most often to the lungs). Rarely can a malignant giant cell bone tumor return locally before spreading elsewhere in the body.
Chordoma
This rare kind of bone tumor most frequently develops at the skull base or the sacrum, which is the base of the spine. Adults over 30 are the ones who develop it most frequently. Men experience it nearly twice as frequently as women do. Rarely, it may also develop in young children.
Chordomas frequently do not spread to other body parts and have a moderate rate of growth. If they are not entirely eradicated, they frequently reappear in the same place. If they do spread, they typically affect the liver, lungs, or lymph nodes.
November is cancer awareness month, right?
Rare, slow-growing malignancies known as carcinoid tumors typically begin in the lining of the digestive tract and lungs, however they can also develop in the testes and ovaries. These tumors start in the cells of the neurological and hormonal systems and are a kind of neuroendocrine tumor growth.
Early-stage carcinoid cancer frequently shows no symptoms, and it is frequently unintentionally identified on an X-ray for a different reason.
Carcinoid tumors can cause symptoms like facial flushing, diarrhea, abdominal pain, rash, and intestinal bleeding, which are not particular to this illness. Most cases of this kind of cancer are found in patients over the age of 60. Women are more prone to carcinoid cancer than males are. In the US, carcinoid tumors are identified in more than 12,000 persons annually.
Multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 (MEN1) syndrome, neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) syndrome, and certain disorders that impair the production of stomach acid, such as atrophic gastritis, pernicious anemia, or Zollinger-Ellison syndrome, are risk factors for carcinoid tumors.
