Bone Cancer

About bone cancer

Bone cancer occurs when cells in the bone begin to divide uncontrollably and abnormally. Bone cancer can affect any bone in the body, but it most commonly affects the pelvis or the long bones in the arms and legs including thigh bone, knee bone. Bone cancer is a rare type of cancer
Bone cancer is rare-less than 1 percent of all cancers, in addition, bone cancer is not a type of cancer that begins elsewhere in the body and spread to the bone.
There are several treatment options available to cure bone cancer at Oncoplus Hospital, Delhi.

Types of bone cancer

Bone cancer is classified into certain types based on the type of cell where the cancer began. The types of bone cancer include:

1. Osteosarcoma: Osteosarcoma is the most common form of bone cancer. In this type, the tumor or cancerous cells form osteoid or bone.
   • Primary Osteosarcoma: Tumours that occur between the ages of 15-25 years and affect the sites commonly- the lower-end of the femur; the upper end of the tibia; and the upper end of the humerus.
   • Secondary Osteosarcoma: When a premalignant disease affects a bone and develops cancer is termed as secondary osteosarcoma. This type affects people above 45 years.
   • Parosteal Osteosarcoma: This type of cancer begins in the region of periosteum.
2. Chondrosarcoma: In this type of cancer, the tumor or cancerous cells form cartilage and commonly occurs in the pelvis, legs or arms but is common in flat bones such as ribs, scapula, and ribs.
3. Ewing sarcoma: Ewing sarcoma tumors occurs in long bones like tibia and femur and less commonly in flat bones like pelvis. It is more common in teenagers and young adults.
4. Fibrosarcoma: Fibrosarcoma is a rare type of cancer that affects cells known as fibroblasts, which are responsible for creating fibrous tissue throughout the body like in tendons(which connect muscle to bone) and other soft tissue like ligaments or muscle.

Signs and Symptoms of Bone Cancer

• Pain in the affected bone
• The affected area may develop swelling and lumps
• Fractures due to weakened bones
• Numbness or a tingling sensation in affected area
• It may cause unintentional weight loss and fatigue
• Difficulty during movement

Book an appointment with the best oncologists for cancer treatment as well as diagnosis at best cancer Hospital in Delhi.

Diagnosis:

Imaging tests can help determine the location and size of bone tumors, and whether the tumors have spread to other parts of the body.

The doctor may advise multiple blood tests to inspect overall general health. Other tissues may include:

• X-ray
• Computed tomography scan
• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
• Positron emission tomography (PET) scan
• Biopsy: A procedure in which tissue samples are removed with a needle or during surgery from the body for examination under a microscope.

WHAT ARE THE CAUSES AND RISK FACTORS OF BONE CANCER?

1. Age: Cancers usually appear with age. But in some types of cancers, younger people have a higher risk of developing them.
   Osteosarcoma is common in teenagers and young adults and is associated with the growth of bones during puberty. It may also appear in older people.
   Spindle cell sarcomas and chondrosarcomas tend to occur in adults between ages 35 and 40 while chondromas occur in adults over 60 years of age.
2. Radiation therapy or chemotherapy: People who have received radiation or chemotherapy previously run the risk of developing bone cancer, even though it is negligible. If it does occur, it is usually 10-20 years after having radiotherapy. People previously treated with certain chemotherapy drugs might have an increased risk of developing secondary cancer like osteosarcoma.
3. Individuals with non-cancerous (benign) bone tumors: Paget’s disease of the bone is a benign condition that causes painful and deformed bones. It mostly occurs in people older than 60 years of age, which results in the formation of abnormal bone tissue. The bones affected are usually dense, thick, brittle and weak. They may be susceptible to a fracture.
4. Genetic disorders: People who have inherited a gene that is maladaptive to the bones may run the risk of developing bone cancers. Hereditary retinoblastoma is a rare eye cancer affecting children. They are more susceptible to develop bone cancer (osteosarcoma), soft tissue sarcomas and other cancers.
5. Bone Marrow Transplant: Bone marrow transplant is a procedure that replaces bone marrow that is malignant due to infection or chemotherapy. In such cases, there has been an increased risk for developing bone cancers.

WHAT ARE THE STAGES OF BONE CANCER?

Once cancer is diagnosed, tests are recommended to determine the stage of the cancer. Staging is done to find out the severity and extent of cancer spread. Staging helps the specialists to formulate the plan of treatment.

Bone Cancer Treatment Options

The treatment options of bone cancer are based on the type of cancer, the stage of the cancer, patient’s general health. Different bone cancers respond to different treatments, for example, some bone cancers are treated through surgery; some with combination of surgery and chemotherapy; while some with surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy.

Chemotherapy in the Treatment of Bone Cancer

Primarily, chemotherapy uses the drugs to destroy the cancerous cells. Chemotherapy drugs are usually delivered through a vein. A few of its primary functions are to starve cancer cells, impede their cell division, and triggering their suicide. While side effects remain, there is an attempt to research drugs that will minimize adverse effects, which are, nausea, weakness, fatigue, bowel-related issues, and blood-related issues, etc.

Radiation Therapy

In Radiation therapy the cancer cells are destroyed using high powered energy radiations. Radiation therapy is often used before an operation because it can shrink the tumour size and make it easier for the surgeon to remove.
Radiation therapy may also be used in patients with bone cancer that cannot be removed through surgery. After surgery, radiation therapy may be used to kill any remaining cancer cells.

Surgery

There are different types of surgery available at Oncoplus Hospital, Delhi for various types and stages of cancer, depending on its size and severity, these are, limb-salvaging surgery, amputation surgery (removal of the limb with affected bone), reconstructive surgery, and surgery for metastasis.
If amputation is needed, you'll likely be fitted with an artificial limb and go through training to learn to do everyday tasks using your new limb.
The goal of surgery is to remove the cancerous tumour completely. In most cases, this involves special techniques to remove the tumor in one single piece, along with a small portion of healthy tissue that surrounds it.

Stem-cell transplants

When Ewing sarcomas are not particularly sensitive to chemotherapy, it may require radiation therapy and perhaps even stem-cell transplants. Stem cell transplants kill bone marrow cells of the affected region, and new cells are induced through the veins to replace destroyed cells through a blood transfusion. Eventually, these new cells adapt to settling down to make healthy bone cells. This process is known as engrafting.

Targeted therapies

Targeted uses drugs to treat cancers but is different from conventional chemotherapy. It works by targeting specific proteins and genes to impede the growth and spread of cancer.
Furthermore, these drugs:

1. disable the growth and division of cancer cells
2. prevent cells from living longer than usual
3. and then, destroy cancer cells

Consult the cancer specialist at Oncoplus Hospital, Delhi.