What is Bone cancer?
Bone cancer is cancer that forms in cells of the bone. Some types of primary bone cancer are osteosarcoma, Ewing sarcoma, malignant fibrous histiocytoma, and chondrosarcoma. Secondary bone cancer is cancer that spreads to the bone from another part of the body (such as the prostate, breast, or lung).
Bone cancer is an uncommon cancer that begins in a bone. Bone cancer can begin in any bone in the body, but it most commonly affects the long bones that make up the arms and legs. Several types of bone cancer exist. Some types of bone cancer occur primarily in children, while others affect mostly adults.
The term “bone cancer” doesn’t include cancers that begin elsewhere in the body and spread (metastasize) to the bone. Instead, those cancers are named for where they began, such as breast cancer that has metastasized to the bone. Bone cancer also doesn’t include blood cell cancers, such as multiple myeloma and leukemia, that begin in the bone marrow — the jelly-like material inside the bone where blood cells are made.
Causes of Bone Cancer:
No one knows the exact causes of bone cancer, and doctors can seldom explain why one person will get bone cancer and another person will not. However, it is clear that this disease is not contagious and no one can “catch” bone cancer from another person. Bone cancer research has shown that people with certain risk factors are more likely than others to develop the condition. A risk factor is anything that increases a person’s chance of developing a disease. While risk factors do not cause bone cancer, they may act together to increase a person’s chances of developing it.
Types of Bone Cancer:
There are eight types of bone cancer.
- Osteosarcoma or Osteogenic Sarcoma is the most common type of primary bone cancer and develops at the end of the bone (more often in the knee, upper arm and upper leg bones) where new bone tissue forms. Osteosarcoma is a cancer of the bone itself, and is more common in children and young adults (with ages between 10 and 25-30) and in males.
- Chondrosarcoma is the second most common type of primary bone cancer and develops in the cartilage tissue. This type of cancer is common in adults over 50 and develops in the cartilage tissue from the pelvis, upper leg, and shoulder bone.
- Ewing’s Sarcoma is a type of primary bone cancer that develops in the immature nerve tissue from the middle part of the bones. Usually, it affects the bones from the pelvic area, upper leg, ribs and arms. It is more common in children and young adults.
- Malignant fibrous histiocytoma is a rare type of cancer that develops in bones. Usually, it occurs in soft tissues like ligaments, tendons, or muscles. This cancer is common in middle age adults and old people, and usually, develops in the leg and arm bones. Malignant fibrous histiocytoma is a progressive form of cancer that often spread to lungs and lymph nodes.
- Fibrosarcomas is another rare type of bone cancer that usually develops in the soft tissues. It is common in middle-aged adults and older people, and primarily affects the leg, arm and jaw bones.
- Giant cell tumors are another type of primary bone cancer that displays benign and malignant tumors. This type of cancer often develops as benign tumors in leg and arm bones. It is more common in young and middle-age adults. Less than 10 percent of the giant cell tumors are malignant. Malignant tumors undergo a progressive evolution and can spread to other organs. When surgically removed, the tumors reoccur and become more likely to spread to other areas of the body.
- Adamantinomas is a type of primary bone cancer that develops in the shin bone.
- Chordoma is a type of primary bone cancer that develops in the skull and/or spine bones, and is more common in adults over 30 and in males. This type of cancer undergoes a slow evolution, and usually does not spread to other organs (but when it does spread, it affects the lymph nodes, the lungs, or the liver). It can reoccur when it is not completely eliminated through treatment.
Bone Cancer Symptoms: Â
Bone cancer symptoms may vary based on the type of bone cancer, but pain is the most commonly experienced symptom. Bone cancer most often occurs in the long bones of the body (arms and legs), so these are the most common sites for pain. Keep in mind that not all bone tumors are cancerous; some are benign. Bone pain is more often related to a benign condition, like an injury, than it is to cancer.
Other symptoms of bone cancer include:
- joint tenderness or inflammation
- fractures due to bone weakness
Non-specific symptoms like fever, unintentional weight loss, fatigue, and anemia can also be symptoms of later stage bone cancer, but are also indicators of other less severe conditions.
Who’s Most at Risk?
People with the following conditions or characteristics may be at risk for developing multiple myeloma:
- Radiation exposure
- Exposure to petroleum products, benzene, herbicides, and insecticides
- Genetic factors
- Over 68 years of age
- African Americans (twice the risk of Caucasians)
People with the following conditions or characteristics may be at risk for developing osteosarcoma:
- Benign tumors and other bone diseases
- Radiation exposure
- Genetic factors
- Children, adolescents
- Males more than females
Your risk of developing chondrosarcoma is higher if you are age 40 – 60.
Types of Treatment for bone cancer:
The treatment options for your bone cancer are based on the type of cancer you have, the stage of the cancer, your overall health and your preferences. Bone cancer treatment typically involves surgery, chemotherapy, radiation or a combination of treatments.
When planning your treatment your doctor will take into account the type of bone cancer you have, the stage and your age and general health.
- Surgery: The type of surgery you have depends on the size of your cancer, where it is in your body and whether it has grown into the surrounding tissue.
Limb salvage surgery means removing the bit of bone where the cancer is growing. The surgeon replaces it with a metal replacement piece (a prosthesis), or with a bone graft. A graft is a piece of healthy bone from somewhere else in your body.
If the cancer has spread into the tissue around the bone, the surgeon may need to remove the affected limb. If the surgeon only removes the tumour, the risk of the cancer coming back may be too high.
- Chemotherapy: You may have chemotherapy to shrink the tumour and make it easier to remove. You may also have it after surgery, to try and kill off any cancer cells that escaped before your tumour was removed.
- Radiotherapy: Radiotherapy can be part of treatment for some types of sarcoma. It can shrink a tumour and make it easier to remove. Or you may have it after surgery to kill off any cancer cells that may have been left behind.
Risk Factors for Bone Cancer: Â
A risk factor is anything that affects your chance of getting a disease such as cancer. Different cancers have different risk factors. For example, exposing skin to strong sunlight is a risk factor for skin cancer. Smoking is a risk factor for cancers of the lung, mouth, larynx, bladder, kidney, and several other organs. But having a risk factor, or even several, does not mean that you will get the disease. Most people with bone cancers do not have any apparent risk factors.
- Inherited genetic syndromes– Certain rare genetic syndromes passed through families increase the risk of bone cancer, including Li-Fraumeni syndrome, Rothmund-Thomson syndrome, hereditary retinoblastoma and multiple exostoses.
- Paget’s disease of bone– This precancerous condition that affects older adults increases the risk of bone cancer.
- Radiation therapy for cancer– Exposure to large doses of radiation, such as those given during radiation therapy for cancer, increases the risk of bone cancer in the future.
Is follow-up treatment necessary? What does it involve?
Yes. Bone cancer sometimes metastasizes, particularly to the lungs, or can recur (come back), either at the same location or in other bones in the body. People who have had bone cancer should see their doctor regularly and should report any unusual symptoms right away. Follow-up varies for different types and stages of bone cancer. Generally, patients are checked frequently by their doctor and have regular blood tests and x-rays. People who have had bone cancer, particularly children and adolescents, have an increased likelihood of developing another type of cancer, such as leukemia, later in life. Regular follow-up care ensures that changes in health are discussed and that problems are treated as soon as possible.
Cost of Bone cancer treatment surgery in India
- The cost of the operation varies a great deal. Different countries have different rates. The operation needs an expert surgeon and the cost of the surgery will depend a lot on the surgeon’s fees. The more experienced he is, the higher his charges will be. This operation also needs hospital stay of four to five days. The charges will depend on the hospital also. The operating room charges, the recovery room charges, the anesthetics charges, medicines, check ups, pre and post consultations all cost money.
- Most health insurance companies cover the bone cancer. However, this has to be discussed in advance. Bone cancer is considered a health related operation and hence there is insurance cover for it.
- India is the most favorable destination when it comes to cancer surgery at low cost without compromising the quality.
Why to consider Bone cancer surgery in India?
Bone cancer surgery in India is fast becoming a popular destination for International patients, because India offers first-class medical treatments by American-trained doctors in hospitals that rival USA hospitals. The majority of medical staff in private hospitals in India has been trained in America. This allows visitors to avail of the same high standard of care as in the US without the worry of post treatment debt. Facilities within hospitals meet world class expectations. Those traveling from the United States will not even have to change currency when crossing the border; the American dollar is used throughout India.
Bone cancer Surgeons in India:
India is all set to provide bone cancer surgery at low cost with highly trained doctors to appeal to the medical tourists. It has a large pool of professionally qualified doctors, nurses and paramedics. The world-class facilities and infrastructure is further supported by low cost airfare and other facilities related to their stay in India. India offers a range of world quality Doctors, hospitals and treatments at a fraction of world costs with comparable success rates and service levels. Bone cancer surgery is done by dedicated medical & surgical specialty physicians who are available to care for any related medical problem in order to ensure success. Surgeons are highly qualified, they have ended their education in U.S, and now in India they are sharing there experience and dedicated to bring smile on the face of their patients.
