5 bone cancer warning signs after death of Strictly star Len Goodman
Five bone cancer warning signs revealed following death of Strictly star Len Goodman
- Bone cancer can affect people of any age, causing fatigue and broken bones
- It has a 55 per cent survival rate according to charity Cancer Research UK
- READ ALSO: Len Goodman dies aged 78 after battling bone cancer
Bone cancer, while rare, kills hundreds in the UK and thousands more in the US every year.
The disease can strike at any age, causing fatigue, broken bones and difficulty walking.
Here, MailOnline reveals the warning signs of bone cancer following the death of Dancing with the Stars judge and Strictly Come Dancing legend Len Goodman, who passed away over the weekend after battling bone cancer.
Dancing With The Stars judge Len Goodman (pictured during his final performance in November 2022) died aged 78 in a hospice on Saturday, days before his 79th birthday
Len Goodman pictured here in 2010 was a fan favourite on the dancing contest
Bone pain
Persistent bone pain is one of the most common signs of bone cancer.
Starting as a feeling of tenderness in the affected bone, it can gradually develop into a persistent or intermittent ache, according to the NHS.
This pain often continues at night and when resting and can feel worse during exercise.
It most commonly develops in the long bones of the legs or upper arms but can also emerge in any bone in the body.
In children, this symptom is often mistaken for growing pains or a sprain, according to cancer charity Macmillan.
The NHS adds that some adults also commonly mistake the pain for arthritis.
If you have any unexplained bone pain, you should see your GP to have it checked out, experts say.
Problems moving around
Having difficulty moving or walking with a limp is another common sign of bone cancer, according to Cancer Research UK.
This is because the cancer can affect a joint, which can then restrict movement in the limbs, says Macmillan.
You may also walk with a limp if the affected bone is in the legs.
But Macmillan explains that this restricted movement is not just caused by a tumour in the bones.
It can also be caused by a tumour in the spine which may press on nerves.
Known as spinal cord compression, this can cause numbness, tingling or weakness in the arms or legs.
Bone cancer can cause pain and problems moving around. This can be caused by a tumour on a joint making it stiff to move or from weakened and broken bones
Broken bones
Bone cancer can also cause fractures in some cases.
Called pathological fractures, these can be triggered by the cancer causing the structure of the bone itself to weaken.
This can result in the bone breaking suddenly without any warning, says Macmillan.
The break can also occur from what would normally be considered a small fall or minor accident.
A high temperature
Another less common symptom of bone cancer is a high temperature.
Cancer Research UK says that very heaving sweating, particularly at night, can also be a sign of cancer.
The sweating can be caused by a multitude of changes the body undergoes as a result of cancer, hormone changes or an infection, for example.
Feeling feverish and sweating is another sign of bone cancer, experts say
Fatigue
Feeling more tired than usual despite getting a good night’s sleep is another potential sign of bone cancer.
This fatigue can be caused by the physical bone pain leaving people feeling exhausted.
The chemical and hormonal changes caused by cancer itself can also play a role in causing fatigue.
This is partly why people with advanced cancer are more likely to experience worsening fatigue.
This could be because more advanced versions of the disease produce more of these changes in the body, causing a person to feel increasingly tired.
A person with cancer may also feel tired as general consequence of being unwell, eating less, being less active, or taking medication to help alleviate symptoms, for example.
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