Bone Cancer Negligence Claims.

There are several different types of bone cancer, and each type requires a slightly different treatment plan, so it is important that diagnostic tests are performed accurately in order to determine the type of bone cancer and the correct treatment needed.

The different types of bone cancer include:

• Osteosarcoma – This is the most common type of bone cancer, particularly amongst children and young adults, and it generally affects the long bones in the arms and legs.
• Chondrosarcoma – This type of bone cancer is caused by a tumour that forms from cartilage-producing cells, and typically affects the bones in the arms, legs, or pelvis.
• Ewing’s sarcoma – This cancer typically affects children and young adults, and occurs in the bones of the legs, arms, and pelvis.
• Spindle cell sarcoma – This type of bone cancer is rare, accounting for around 2 to 5% of all bone cancer cases. It is caused by a soft tissue tumour found in the bones of the legs, arms, and pelvis.
• Myeloma cancer – This type of cancer affects the bone marrow, typically leading to weakening of the bones, increasing their susceptibility to fracture.

In the majority of cases, bone cancer affects the larger bones of the body such as those found in the arms, legs, and pelvis. However, although rare, bone cancer can also affect the ribs and some of the smaller bones in the body such as those in the hand.

Bone cancer symptoms typically vary from patient to patient, and they can differ depending on which bones in the body are affected and what stage the cancer is at. However, some of the key “red flag” symptoms to look out for include:

• Discolouration of the skin around the bone and joint area
• Swelling or inflammation of the bone and joint area
• Limited ability or inability to move a bone e.g. in the leg or arm
• Unexplained bone fractures
• Unintentional and severe weight loss
• Irregular and unexplained night sweats
• High temperature and excessive sweating
• Lumps on the bone
• General fatigue
• Pain that worsens over time

If you are suffering from any of the above symptoms, it is always advisable to see your GP as soon as possible. Bone cancer is rare, so it may be that your symptoms point initially to a different condition. However, without diagnostic testing, it is impossible for doctors to know exactly what is causing your symptoms.

The symptoms of bone cancer can sometimes be similar to those of other conditions, so it is possible that a doctor may misdiagnose bone cancer initially in some cases. Any delay in diagnosis leads to a delay in treatment, which can cause the cancer to spread and progress.

Bone cancer can be misdiagnosed for several other conditions, including:

Bone cancer occurs when cells within a bone begin to act abnormally and multiply uncontrollably, resulting in a mass known as a tumour. In some cases the tumour may remain benign, while in others it may become malignant and cancerous.

Doctors are not sure exactly what causes cells to multiply abnormally in some people, but they have identified a number of risk factors that could potentially increase the likelihood of bone cancer developing, including:

• Radiation – Patients who have previously been exposed to radiation, such as at work or due to radiotherapy treatment for cancer, may have an increased risk of forming cancerous cells.
• Other bone conditions – There are some non-cancerous bone conditions that may increase the likelihood of bone cancer developing, including Paget’s disease and Ollier’s disease.
• Genetic conditions – Certain rare genetic conditions such as Li-Fraumeni Syndrome can increase the risk of bone cancer developing, as well as other types of cancer.
• Hereditary retinoblastoma – This rare form of eye cancer shares the same inherited gene that can also lead to bone cancer, so those who developed retinoblastoma in childhood may have a predisposition to bone cancer.

Falling into one of these at-risk categories doesn’t necessarily mean that a person will definitely develop bone cancer. However, if any of the above apply to you and you also develop symptoms of bone cancer, your GP has a duty of care to ensure that you are referred for urgent testing, and a failure to do so could constitute medical negligence.

The first stage in any bone cancer diagnosis is usually a visit to your GP as soon as you begin to experience symptoms such as bone pain, inflammation, and mobility issues. Your GP has a duty of care to take your symptoms seriously and carry out an examination of the affected area, as well as discussing your family and medical history. If they are concerned it could be cancer, they should refer you urgently to a specialist for further testing, which may include the following:

• X-ray
• Bone scan
• Computerised Tomography (CT)
• Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
• Positron Emission Tomography (PET)
• Bone marrow biopsy

If the presence of cancer is confirmed, a biopsy of the affected bone or bone marrow is necessary in order to determine what type of bone cancer is present, and the staging of the same. Armed with this information, your doctors can then decide on an appropriate course of treatment.

The treatment for bone cancer varies from patient to patient, depending on a number of factors including, the staging of the cancer, which bone/s are affected; and the general health of the patient. A multidisciplinary team of doctors will usually work together to decide upon a suitable treatment plan for you, which will typically involve a combination of the following treatment options:

• Surgery – The bone, or part of the bone, affected by the cancer may be removed (an “osteostomy”). In most cases, the patient’s limbs can be spared, but in around 10% of cases it is necessary to amputate the full limb. This is usually the case when the cancer has spread into the surrounding nerves or blood vessels, or where limb-sparing surgery is not possible due to the location of the cancer.
• Radiotherapy – This method of treatment is often used alongside surgery to shrink the tumour beforehand, and target any remaining cancer cells after the surgery. Radiotherapy is also used for symptom relief in patients where a cure is not possible.
• Chemotherapy – This is often used in conjunction with both surgery and radiotherapy in order to shrink the size of the tumour, and relieve symptoms in cases of incurable bone cancer.
• Targeted drugs – Some types of bone cancer respond to certain drugs; for example, osteosarcoma patients may be given mifamurtide alongside other forms of treatment in order to prevent the cancer from returning.

If you have received inadequate treatment for bone cancer, or your treatment was delayed due to a misdiagnosis of your condition, causing your condition to progress unduly, you may be able to claim compensation. Our medical negligence experts can offer advice and guidance as to whether you have a claim.