LYCOS RETRIEVER 
Bones: Cancers
built 605 days ago
The tracer then travels through the bloodstream and into the bones. A special camera (gamma) takes pictures of the tracer in the bones. This helps show cell activity and function in the bones. Areas that absorb little or no amount of tracer appear as dark or "cold" spots, which may indicate a lack of blood supply to the bone (bone infarction) or the presence of certain types of cancer. Areas of rapid bone growth or repair absorb increased amounts of the tracer and show up as bright or "hot" spots in the pictures. Hot spots may indicate the presence of a tumor, a fracture, or an infection.
Source:
The majority of spinal fractures are caused by osteoporosis, a progressive disease that causes bones to become brittle, weak and susceptible to painful, debilitating fractures. According to the National Osteoporosis Foundation, one-in-two women and one-in-four men over the age of 50 in the U.S. will experience a spinal fracture, with two-thirds going undiagnosed. Cancer, including multiple myeloma and the metastasis of other tumors to bone, can ... affect bone quality and lead to spinal fracture. In cases of multiple spinal fractures, a loss of height and stooped posture -- known as kyphosis -- can occur, which affects the ability to stand upright and walk, and can make simple tasks like lifting a bag of groceries or getting dressed difficult. Left untreated, each additional fracture increases future fracture risk, accelerating the effects of the spinal deformity. Increasing kyphosis is associated with decreased respiratory function, reduced ability to walk, decreased quality of life, and an increased risk of early mortality.
Source:
Osteoporosis, a term that means "porous bones," is a disease in which bones become weak and can easily break. It is known as "the silent disease" because many of the estimated 75 million women and men in the United States, Europe and Japan who suffer from osteoporosis do not know they are losing bone mass until they experience a spine, hip or wrist fracture. Of the 1.5 million fractures attributable to osteoporosis that occur annually in the U.S., nearly half are spinal fractures, according to the National Osteoporosis Foundation. Kyphon markets medical devices that are used in minimally invasive therapies for the treatment of spinal fractures in order to improve the quality of life of those affected by spinal fractures caused by osteoporosis and cancer.
Source:
Osteoporosis is a silent disease that affects millions of postmenopausal women, making their bones weak and more likely to fracture over time. In fact, in the U.S. today, 8 million women are estimated to already have osteoporosis, and almost 27 million more are estimated to have low bone mass, placing them at increased risk for fracture. Each year the incidence of osteoporosis-related fractures is greater than the incidence of heart attacks, strokes, and breast cancer combined. The good news is that there are prescription medications available that effectively reduce both vertebral and nonvertebral fracture risk.
Source:
Cancers can be discovered in bones in a number of different circumstances. When cancer is located in the bones, it is important to differentiate whether this cancer has spread from another site to the bones or whether the cancer originated in the bone tissue itself. This distinction is important not only for the sake of correct terminology, but ... to accurately determine which treatment options are appropriate.
Source:
"Human bones continually rebuild themselves, and jawbones specifically require rapid turnover," explains Dr. Levy. "Bisphosphonates are a family of drugs used to prevent and treat osteoporosis, multiple myeloma, Paget's disease (bone cancers), bone metastasis from other cancers," Dr. Levy relates.
Source:
MORE ABOUT
Cancers