Information on Bone Marrow Cancer

Bone marrow refers to the soft and spongy tissue that can be found in the centre of a bone. The bone marrow consists of several blood-forming cells known as stem cells, which develop into red blood cells, platelets and white blood cells. When an abnormal number of cells begin to grow in the blood-forming cells present in the bone marrow, the medical condition is called bone marrow cancer.

Types of Bone Marrow Cancer

The most commonly occurring bone marrow cancers are the type that occurs when the cancer spreads from other parts of the body to the bone. Primarily, there are two types of bone marrow cancer: primary and secondary.

Some other types of cancers that form in the blood-forming cells of the bone are:

Lymphomas: this type of cancer most commonly starts in the lymph nodes, though it can also start in the bone marrow.

Leukaemia: this type of cancer occurs when there is an abnormal production of abnormal white blood cells in the bone marrow.

Multiple Myeloma: this type of cancer develops in the plasma cells that are present in the bone marrow.

Primary Bone Marrow Cancer

Primary bone marrow cancer is the type of cancer that grows in the blood-forming cells of the bone. Some examples of primary bone cancer include chondrosarcoma, osteosarcoma, malignant fibrous histiocytoma and Ewing’s sarcoma.

Some types of primary bone marrow cancer include:

Chondrosarcoma: this type of cancer develops from the cartilage cells of the bone.

Osteosarcomea: this is the cancerous tumour of the bone and is the most commonly occurring cancer of all the primary bone cancers.

Malignant fibrous histiocytoma: this is the type of cancer that occurs in soft tissues such as tendons, ligaments, muscle and fat.

Secondary Bone Marrow Cancer

Secondary bone marrow cancer is the type of cancer that spreads from one part of the body to the bone marrow. Such a type of cancer is called metastasised cancer. Some types of metastatic tumours involve the axial skeleton than the appendicular skeleton as is likely to be believed.

Some of the most common types of cancers that metastatise to the bones include lung, breast and prostate. The bones that are most commonly affected include the ribs, spine, skull, pelvis and upper bones of the legs and arms.

 

Some of the symptoms of bone marrow cancer include:

1.    Pain: this is the most common symptom of bone marrow cancer in any part of the body.
2.    Firm and slightly tender lump on any part of the bone that can easily be felt through the skin.
3.    Problem in movement.
4.    Frequent fractures.