Bone cancer is one of the important cancer types although it is rarely encountered in the society. Bone cancer, caused by malignant tumors that cause tissue destruction in the skeletal system, is a disease that can be treated with surgical intervention thanks to early diagnosis. Bone cancer can start in any bone in the body, but most commonly affects the pelvis or long bones in the arms and legs. Here is all the information you want to know about bone cancer!
What is bone cancer?
Bone cancers are malignant tumors that develop in the skeletal system and cause tissue destruction there. Cancers that begin in the bone or joint cartilage are called primary bone cancer. The term “primary bone cancer” does not include cancers that begin elsewhere in the body and spread (metastasize) to the bone. This type of cancer is named according to the organ or tissue it started, such as breast cancer that has metastasized to the bone. These are also called secondary bone cancer. However, it should be kept in mind that only primary bone cancers are meant when bone cancer is mentioned. The usual treatment technique for bone cancer is surgery. Positive results can often be achieved following early diagnosis and treatment.
What causes bone cancer?
In more than one case, it is not known why a person develops bone cancer. However, there are some factors that increase the risk of bone cancer. Some of these factors can be listed in the following form:
– Having previously received radiotherapy for another reason
– Individuals with Paget’s disease of the bone, which is a disease characterized by a disorder in the bone regeneration cycle
– Individuals with a rare genetic condition called Li-Fraumeni syndrome – these patients typically have a mutation in a gene that suppresses the growth of cancerous cells.
– People who had eye cancer called retinoblastoma in childhood are more likely to develop bone cancer. The reason for this may be that the inherited faulty gene is responsible for both conditions.
– Studies have found that babies born with an umbilical hernia are 3 times more likely to develop bone cancer of the Ewing sarcoma type.
Bone cancer symptoms
The most common symptoms of bone cancer can be listed as follows:
Bone pain that worsens over time and continues at night
Swelling around the affected area, inflammation that causes redness and tenderness
Limitation of movement if the affected bone is close to the joint
Weakness in the bones that causes fractures more easily than usual
An obvious lump on the bone
Fatigue
Involuntary weight loss
Bone cancer treatment
Surgical treatment: Surgical treatment aims to remove the cancer and surrounding bone tissue. It is the most common form of treatment for bone cancer. For a complete treatment, the cancerous cells must be completely removed by surgery. If some of the cancer tissue is not removed, the mass may continue to grow and eventually spread. In this case, additional treatments such as radiotherapy may be necessary.
Radiotherapy: Radiotherapy is widely used in the treatment of many types of cancer. In this system, cancer cells are targeted with high-power X-rays. Radiotherapy can be given in addition to surgery, or it can be given alone to patients who do not need surgery.
Chemotherapy: It involves the use of powerful drugs to destroy cancer cells. Chemotherapy is often given to patients with Eving’s sarcoma or a new diagnosis of osteosarcoma. In addition, chemotherapy and radiotherapy can be preferred together.
Immunotherapy: Immunotherapy is a form of treatment that uses drugs that target a molecule that causes cancer cells to grow and interact with it. It is a method that can be used in patients with osteosarcoma and can be given to the patient in addition to other treatment options.
