Bone Cancer Life Expectancy

Bone Cancer Life Expectancy
Malignant or cancerous bone tumors are referred to as bone cancer. Read this article to know about bone cancer life expectancy, along with the information about different stages and types of bone cancer.

Every year, millions of Americans are affected by cancer. More than 2000 people in the U.S. are found to be affected by bone cancer every year. When malignant tumors begin in bone tissue itself, it is called primary bone cancer. Tumors can be benign too. Benign tumors do not spread and they do not destroy bone tissues. When the cancer from breast, lungs, prostate, etc. spreads (metastasizes) to the bones, it is known as metastasized or secondary bone cancer. Metastasized bone cancer is more common than primary bone cancer. Unusual persistent pain or swelling in or near the bone are the common bone cancer symptoms. Let us first have a look at the types of bone cancer.

Types of Bone Cancer

If you look at the structure of bones, you will notice that bones are made up of osteoid (hard or compact), cartilaginous (tough, flexible), and fibrous (threadlike) tissue, as well as elements of bone marrow (soft, spongy tissue in the center of most bones). Depending upon the exact location (the part of the bone it exists) of the bone cancer, types of bone cancer are decided. Following are the main types of bone cancer.
Osteosarcoma: Osteosarcoma is the most common type of primary bone cancer. It normally occurs in long bones of arms and legs and mostly affects the young people. Knees and shoulders are usually affected by osteosarcoma.
Chondrosarcoma: Chondrosarcoma is the second most common type of bone cancer. It originates from the cartilage cells. It usually affects people over 40 years of age. Normally the bones of hips and pelvis get affected by chondrosarcoma.
Ewing’s Sarcoma: Ewing’s sarcoma is an aggressive bone cancer. It is mostly detected in younger people between 4-15 years of age. Usually, the middle of the long bones of arms and legs are affected by Ewing's sarcoma.
Fibrosarcoma: Fibrosarcoma is a very rare type of bone cancer. It is found in the soft tissues of leg behind the knee area. Generally, the people of 35-55 years of age are affected by fibrosarcoma.
Chordoma: Chordoma is also a rare type of bone cancer. It generally affects upper or lower end of spinal column and is mostly found in people over 30 years of age.
Malignant Fibrous Histiocytoma: Malignant fibrous histiocytoma is found in the soft tissues such as fat, muscles, tendons and ligaments. People belonging to the age group 50-60, usually get affected by it. The extremities are usually seen affected.
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Bone Cancer Life Expectancy

The bone cancer survival rate will depend upon various factors, like age, overall physical health, the stage (how far the cancer has spread) when the cancer is detected, how long the patient has had the symptoms, type of treatment received and how strong the patient is, to withstand the treatment. A physically and mentally stronger patient can have a much extended life expectancy. Surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy and cryosurgery (use of liquid nitrogen to kill the cancer cells) are the main types of treatments available for bone cancer. Bone cancer life expectancy will also depend upon how how much cancer can be removed by surgery and how much can be killed with the help of radiation and chemo-cycles. Life expectancy of bone cancer depends upon regular follow-up check ups too, since bone cancer can get metastasized to other organs like lungs, or it can come back in the same bone or other bones too. Bone cancer survival rates are calculated for different purposes by different methods. Mostly, the statistics refer to the percentage of people having certain type of or specific stage of bone cancer, who have survived the disease for 5 years after their diagnosis. A few years back, the overall 5-year relative bone cancer survival rate was 70%. The 5-year relative bone cancer life expectancy rates, by race and sex are:

Race and Sex                  Percentage of People Survived
Caucasian men                   68%
Caucasian women                  73%
African-American men          71%
African American women          69%

The 5-year relative bone cancer life expectancy rates, depending upon the stage of bone cancer when bone cancer is diagnosed are:

Stage when Cancer is Detected  Percentage of People Survived     Total Number of Such Bone Cancer                                                                                                                                                                    
Localized (confined to primary site)                          85%                  41%
Regional                                                                   70%                  36%
Distant (metastasized)                                          31%                 15%
Unstaged (information of stage not known)           63%                  8%

The 5-year relative bone cancer death rates depending upon the age of the people affected:

Age when Cancer is Detected Percentage of People Died Total Number of Such Bone Cancer Cases
Under Age 20                          15%                                                                   30%
Above Age 75                         19%                                                                     4%

The 5-year survival rate of the metastasized or stage 4 or final stage bone cancer is between 19 and 49 percent. The survival rate is quite encouraging, but don't ever forget that the chances of beating cancer or increasing stage 4 bone cancer life expectancy is strongly dependent on the determination and attitude of the patient throughout. Every case of cancer is a unique case and these statistics should not be used to predict about the health of a particular patient.