How can bone cancer kill you

Primary bone cancers start in bones. Most bone cancers in children and teens are primary bone cancers. But in adults, most cancers in the bones started in a different organ and then spread to the bones. This is known as bone metastasis , and it can happen with some common cancers like breast, prostate, or lung cancer. The cancer cells in the bone look like the cancer cells in the breast, and they're treated the same way.

Osteosarcoma and Ewing tumors Ewing sarcomas are the most common bone cancers in children and teens. For more on these cancers, click on their links. The most common types of bone cancer in adults include:. Some cancers start in the bone marrow the center of the bones, where new blood cells are made. These cancers include multiple myeloma , leukemias , and some non-Hodgkin lymphomas. These are not thought of as bone cancers. For more on these cancers, click on the links above.

These cancers may not be found until they cause pain that makes a person go to the doctor. The doctor will ask you questions about your health and do a physical exam.

If signs are pointing to bone cancer, tests will be needed to find out for sure. Here are some of the tests you may need:. X-rays: Most bone cancers can be seen on x-rays, so this is often the first test done if a person might have bone cancer. MRI scan: MRIs use radio waves and strong magnets instead of x-rays to make detailed pictures of the body. MRIs can be used to learn more about the size and shape of a tumor in a bone.

It can be used to see if the cancer has spread to the liver, lungs, or other organs. Bone scan: This test may be done to see if the cancer has spread to other bones. A small amount of low-level radioactive substance is put into your blood. It settles in damaged areas of bone all over the body.

A special camera shows the radioactivity and makes a picture of your bones. PET scan: A PET scan is like a bone scan, but it uses a type of sugar that can be seen inside your body with a special camera. Biopsy : For this test, the doctor takes out small pieces of the tumor.

These are checked for cancer cells. This is the only way to know for sure if you have bone cancer and what type it is. In other cases, it can take months or years. However, as the cancer grows or spreads, it will start to impact multiple organs and the essential bodily processes they perform. This can cause a range of serious symptoms, including:. It is important to note that the symptoms vary greatly, depending on the type of cancer a person has and the organs it affects.

People with cancer die when tumors or cancerous cells impair organ function to the point where it can not perform vital bodily processes. People with earlier stages of cancer may not notice any symptoms, or they may experience more subtle symptoms.

As the cancer progresses and spreads to multiple parts of the body, the symptoms tend to increase, as does the likelihood of death. Cancer is the uncontrolled development of cells. After heart disease, it is the second most common cause of death in the United States. Breast cancer survival rates are rising as screening and treatment improve. However, this is still the most invasive cancer among females. Learn more….

Colon cancer is the third most common cause of cancer-related death in the United States. In this article, learn about the signs and symptoms, stages…. Cancer sometimes develops in the stomach. Treatment often involves surgery or radiation therapy. People can take dietary steps to reduce the risk…. Multiple myeloma and lymphoma are two different cancers that affect white blood cells. Learn more about the differences between these two cancers here. Cancer: How does it kill?

Back to Health A to Z. Primary bone cancer is a rare type of cancer that begins in the bones. Around new cases are diagnosed each year in the UK. This is a separate condition from secondary bone cancer, which is cancer that spreads to the bones after developing in another part of the body.

Find out more about secondary bone cancer on the Macmillan website. Cancer can kill when it invades essential organs, like your liver, lungs, or brain, and stops them from functioning properly. These complications could be due to primary cancer that starts in an essential organ, such as brain cancer. Or it could be cancer that has metastasized from one area to another. For example, breast cancer that has spread to the lungs.

As cancer spreads throughout the body, it becomes more difficult to control. Some types of cancer tend to spread slowly. Other types spread more aggressively. Malnutrition is a major cause of mortality in advanced cancer. This can happen when tumors in the digestive system form a blockage or interfere with the absorption of essential nutrients.

In addition, cancer and cancer treatments can lead to loss of appetite and the inability to keep down food. Signs of malnutrition include:. A diseased or collapsed lung can lead to:.

The liver has many important jobs — such as filtering toxins from the blood and maintaining the balance of chemicals. Liver tumors can prevent the liver from performing these functions, which can lead to jaundice and other life threatening issues. Cancer in the bones can cause too much calcium hypercalcemia to be released into the bloodstream.

This can affect the proper functioning of the heart, kidneys, and muscles. It can also cause neurological symptoms, such as confusion, memory loss, and depression.