What Are The Different Bone Cancer Stages?

Bone cancer stages 4 - Bone cancer is a devastating disease in which malignant tumors replace healthy bone tissue. The primary form of this cancer begins in the bone itself, while the secondary form includes the spread of cancer from other parts of the body around the bones. In the United States, the disease is divided into various stages of bone cancer depending on the size and spread of tumors. Stage I is the mildest form of bone cancer and can progress through more severe stages to stage IV. While Stage IV cancer is a life-threatening condition, people can survive with correct treatment

American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) system for organizing bone cancer stages in the US The system uses four factors: tumor size (T), whether the cancer is spread to the lymph nodes (N) or organs (M) and a degree of how aggressive the cancer (G). Doctors will perform diagnostic tests for these four factors and base their treatment on how far the cancer has developed. These tests include x-rays, biopsies and blood tests. Other countries use different enscenation classifications, such as the Enneking staging system in the United Kingdom, which only indicates three bone cancer stages.



The first three bone cancer stages in the United States are also localized cancer. Stage I defines bone cancer that is limited to one bone and is not sown to the lymph nodes or nearby organs. The cancer must also be one of the basis of aggressiveness in this stage. Stage I can be subdivided by tumor size or if there are single tumors on one leg.

The second of the bone cancer steps is similar to Stage I, except the cancer is determined aggressively. Stage III aggressive bone cancer more than one tumor on one leg. At this stage, the cancer has not spread to other parts of the body.

Stage IV significantly differs from the lower stages of cancer and is considered much more serious. Stage IV bone cancer is either spread to surrounding lymph nodes or organs such as the lungs, brain or liver. This is also known sowing cancer.

The treatment of bone cancer depending on the size and location of the tumor, and how aggressively spread it. Early treatment usually involves surgery to remove the tumor and damaged tissue. Treatment for late stage or aggressive bone cancer will usually be chemotherapy and radiation. It is import for follow-up treatments to continue after a bone cancer diagnosis because the disease may recur in some patients.

*Image source : HealthTap

References :

1. National Cancer Institute
2. HEALTH
3. American Cancer Society