can cancer be symetrical?

hi i was just wondering if cancer can be symetrical? for ex, bone cancer?

[Fernando Roque, MD]

Hi.  It is possible for cancer to occur at bilateral sites of a symmetrical organ, such as the breast or the lungs.  Primary bone cancer, such as osteosarcoma or Ewing's sarcoma, usually occur as solitary masses and do not usually present on both sides of the body at the same time.  But bone metastases may be found in multiple areas, and can in theory, occur symmetrically.  

[ld31]

Hi,

Thank you very much for that information. but does bone metastases not happen until after you are diagnosed with cancer?
see i have this two lumps on the inside of my inner elbow area(both arms) in the same place, they do not hurt to touch, or are swollen itchy or anything like that. i have had them for the past couple years, they have not grown or anything like that. i am just wondering on what they could be? i also have them in the same spot in my upper arms(both)
there is a history of arthrtis in my family....wondering if i could be getting something along those lines?

[Fernando Roque, MD]

Hi.  It would be hard for me to say what those lumps are without actually having seen them, but from your description, they don't seem to me to be bone cancer, whether primary or metastatic.  Metastatic bone cancer usually doesn't present as protruding lumps.  They're usually seen on x-ray or bone scan as areas of thinned out bone.  Primary bone cancer, on the other hand, would have grown considerably over a couple of years and not remain the same size.  Offhand, since you mentioned a strong family history of arthritis, those lumps may be gouty tophi (uric acid crystal accumulation underneath the skin), but this is just a guess.  Why don't you have those lumps examined by a doctor to find out what those really are?

[ld31]

Hi,

Thanks again! Do you think they can be enlarged lymph nodes? I am so scared, I mean i've had these for a couple years and i'm not feeling anything else, i did have mono when i was 20 i am 24 now, and i was hospitalized because of it,for a week or so, and they took an xray of my chest and back to see if the pockets of puss leaked into my neck and stuff which it didn't, do you think it could be from that? because lymph nodes can become imflammed? but the area where the lymph nodes are in the elbow is not the same place where my lumps are located, if you hold your arm straight out palm side up and look at the elbow crease right in the  center of both arms is where the lumps are.

[ld31]

sorry one more thing....the thing you suggested that it could be gouty tophi i looked up some images and not too much at all came up in the elbow area, most are in the fingers and stuff aren't they?

[Fernando Roque, MD]

Hi. I think the best thing to do is to have those lumps seen by a doctor, so you can have a definite diagnosis.  The only thing I can offer you is a best guess, since it's not possible for me to examine you properly. But I really don't think those lumps are bone cancer. If they really bother you, then see a doctor at the soonest possible time.

[osteosarcomagirl]

I have to disagree with you, since I actually have this. Sometimes osteosarcoma can show up as a swelling or a "lump" underneath the skin on top of the bone.