May we know how bad was the prognosis ? If you are privy to the details and how's it caused ?
Advanced Bone Cancer ,normally means cancer in stage 3 or stage 4. When Cancer Metastasis spreads to other organs, typically liver,spinal cord.brain etc.
When that happens all you could do is only RadioTherapy (Irradiation of affected parts) or Chemotherapy, most cases it will be both combined with Surgery . Chemo and Radio therapy is aimed to reduce the size of the cancer and stop its spread.But most cases there is a Remission and prognosis would be calculated in 5 year Survival rates. Some Bone cancers can be cured completely.
The causes could be Genetic. or exposure to chemicals,radiation mostly. We don't know what was the Officer exposed to in his Profession. Some in my Doctors group said he was in Stage 3b of cancer.
most likely it is Genetic.
Aniline dyes ,exposure to lead, paints,dyes, cigarettes cause Urinary bladder cancer.
Lung cancers are caused by exposure to Cement,fiber glass, cotton,asbestos, Sugarcane dust,Tar and cigarettes.
Gastro Intestinal cancers mostly are Genetic. They are also caused by repeated Infection by Helicobacter Pylori (a bacteria found in gastroenteritis, which lives in stomach acidic environment and causes erosion of Gut leading to rupture) And too much Red meat consumption without adequate roughage( plant fiber) in diet leading to constipation and later leads to Hemorroids and cancer.
Blood Cancers are more seen in young kids, mostly genetically inherited. They have very good recovery rates.
Liver and Pancreatic cancers are mostly due to infection from Hepatitis viruses or Alcohol Consumption.
Out of all these cancers Pancreatic cancer is the worst. Its survival rate is just less than a year.Even Steve jobs with all his wealth could not live beyond 1 year after being diagnosed of Pancreatic Cancer.
It is good to get a Liver Function test done once every 6 months to screen problems as these liver and pancreatic cancers are silent cancers, you won't know about them until they reach advanced stages.