Diagnosis and Treatment of Bone Cancer
Human bones are made of a protein known as collagen and a mineral known as calcium phosphate. Bones are living tissue, and can hence grow and repair themselves.
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Diagnosis and Treatment of Bone Cancer Quick Details
WHO IS THIS FOR
Patients who have been diagnosed with bone cancer.
PROGNOSIS
The prognosis for bone cancer also depends largely on the type of cancer, when it was diagnosed, your age and your personal health status at that point in time. On average, the 5 year survival rate varies between 54% to 85%.
TREATMENT DURATION
The surgery may take an hour or longer, depending on the type of surgery, and if an amputation has to be carried out - then the level of amputation will also decide the final duration of your surgery.
Chemotherapy is done is cycles, where you receive medication over the course of a few days and then let your body rest and recover. The duration of a cycle and the number of cycles you have to undergo depends on the medication you are receiving, the type of cancer you have, and the stage of cancer you are in. General factors such as your current age, health status and medical history also play a role.
Radiotherapy sessions last for a for a couple of minutes and are carried out 5 days a week, for a few weeks. The total duration depends, again on the cancer type and stage and other personal factors.
POTENTIAL RISKS & SIDE EFFECTS
The general, as well as the specific risks associated with bone cancer surgery, are bleeding, infection, pain, necrosis and damage to the implant.
Radiotherapy side effects include: fatigue, nausea, loss of appetite, changes in skin.
Complications of chemotherapy include hair loss, nausea, loss of appetite, diarrhea, fatigue, mouth sores.
Bone Cancer
Three main types of cells make up our bones:
Osteoclasts: Mainly responsible for bone reabsorption.
Osteoblasts: Important for protein synthesis that is vital for bone formation and also responsible for bone mineralization.
Osteocytes: These cells are in charge of locating or responding to physical pressures/changes on the bone, and sends out signals for repair and growth.
Main Types of Bone Cancer
Ewing sarcoma: This type of cancer occurs mostly in children.
Osteosarcoma: Most common type of bone cancer, and occurs often in arms and legs but can start in any bone.
Chondrosarcoma: This cancer type affects the bone cartilage, and occurs more commonly in adults.
Chordoma: This type of bone cancer affects the spinal cord, and occurs generally in older adults.
Causes and Symptoms of Bone Cancer
Causes and Risk Factors
The following risk factors increase your likelihood of being diagnosed with bone cancer:
Genetics: Mutations in specific genes cause conditions such as retinoblastoma (a form of eye cancer), osteochondromas (a non-cancerous growth found on the surface of bones) along with a familial history of bone cancer.
Previous radiation therapy: Radiation therapy for other cancers can increase the chance of you developing bone cancer in that area.
Other bone conditions: Paget’s disease and Fibrous dysplasia.
Symptoms
Following are the main symptoms of bone cancer:
Pain: The most common and earliest sign of bone cancer. It increases in intensity and duration as the disease progresses.
Swelling: The area surrounding the tumor may become inflamed.
Fractures: Tumor formation may cause the bone to become weaker, and increases the likelihood of getting a fracture.
Numbness/Tingling: If the tumor is putting pressure on nerves, you may experience numbness or tingling in that particular area.
Unexpected weight loss and fatigue.
Diagnosis and Treatment
Diagnosis and Screening
In addition to a consultation where your oncologist will discuss your medical history and carry out a physical exam, here are some of the basic diagnostic tests you will/can undergo:
Computed Tomography (CT) scan
X-ray
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scan
Bone scan
PET
Biopsy
How Is Bone Cancer Treated?
Surgery
There are two main types of surgery for treating bone cancer: Limb sparing surgery - This surgery is recommended/performed when the cancer has not spread in the body. The surgeon removes the cancer and some surrounding tissue and spares the limb. The removed section is then filled in with a prosthesis or a bone graft. An amputation is performed when the cancer has metastasized, or limb sparing surgery was unsuccessful.
Chemotherapy
Uses anti-cancer drugs to kill or shrink the cancer causing cells and to prevent the spread of cancer to other areas of the body. Chemotherapy can be given before or after the surgery to shrink the tumor and to prevent the cancer from returning respectively. It is also given in combination with radiotherapy or as palliative care for late stage cancer. The specific chemotherapy drug or combination of drugs will be prescribed based on your individual case.
Targeted Therapy
Targeted therapy drugs, are as the name suggested more specific, i.e, they harm cancer cells and do not have any adverse effects on surrounding or other cells of our body. As of now, targeted therapy drugs are used for bone cancers where chemotherapy might not have been successful.
Radiation Therapy
Radiation therapy works by aiming high energy waves at the cancerous cells. This treatment, as chemotherapy, can be given before and/or after surgery and is also used for shrinking the tumor when surgery is not an option.
What Should I Expect From This Procedure?
Please bear in mind, that your medical history, your environment which includes family and friends, your lifestyle habits, genetics, the type and intensity of cancer you have, all play a role in deciding the course of your treatment. Many times a combination of treatments is recommended, and this may change through the duration of your illness. This is done so the doctor can ensure that you are getting the best possible treatment for your individual case.
How Do I Find the Right Doctor?
We understand that before going through a major treatment like surgery or radiotherapy, you may be feeling unsure and want a second opinion, or you would like to look for the top oncologist specializing in bone cancer, or for a clinical trial doing cutting edge research. For support with any of these queries and question, Qunomedical is here for you 24/7.
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