A Bone Tumor in My Foot?

It’s unlikely that you know or have even heard of someone having a bone tumor in his or her foot. In fact, we usually think of them as a malignant cancerous development that we want to be removed from our bodies ASAP! What is a bone tumor? But let’s back up a moment. Yes, it IS possible to have a bone tumor in the foot, and while rare, it’s not unheard of. Additionally, bone tumors (or tumors in general) are not always cancerous. Tumors are characterized by an abnormal growth of cells in a localized area. Sometimes, it’s because of cancer, and other times, it’s just an anomaly that is still perfectly harmless. How does it affect the foot? The negative part of a bone tumor, specifically, is that the abnormal growth of cells within the bone can make it weak because it is taking the place of strong and healthy bone tissue. The result is a weaker bone, which can leave you prone to fracturing your bones when you incur a foot injury. How do I know if I have a bone tumor in my foot? Because bone tumors are within the bone, it’s not always easy to see the signs and symptoms of a bone tumor. If you feel pain, see a new bump on your foot or swelling, you may think it is a foot fracture. Coming in to see one of the podiatrists can help correctly identify if you have a bone tumor (and possibly a fracture due to a bone tumor). Most bone tumors tend to be non-cancerous, but as mentioned above, it’s possible that they can still cause you problems. Some common foot bone tumors we’ve seen include Osteochondromas (benign), Enchondromas (benign), Chondrosarcomas (malignant), and Ewing’s Sarcoma (malignant). Each of these does not always present with painful symptoms, but it’s not uncommon for the malignant bone tumors to eventually cause pain. Treatment of foot bone tumors will depend on the type of tumor. For some, surgery may be required. To get the right diagnosis and treatment, make an appointment to see us at Alamitos-Seal Beach Podiatry Group. One of our board-certified podiatrists, Dr. Douglas H. Richie, Dr. Jeremy L. Cook, Dr. Faye E. Izadi will be happy to assist you at either of our offices in Seal Beach, CA and Los Alamitos, CA.