Bone cancer is one of the several types of cancers that develop in bones. The cancer destroys the normal bone tissue. It may start from bone and spread to other parts of the body.

Bone cancer is of two types. The primary bone cancer develops in the cells of the bone. On the other hand, secondary bone cancer develops in any other body organ and spreads to the bones.

Bone cancer develops when normal bone cells undergo abnormal changes and grow abnormally to form a tumor.

In India, healthcare institutions like Indraprastha Apollo and Max Healthcare are at the forefront of medical advancements and offer effective bone cancer treatment.

Signs and Symptoms of Bone Cancer

 When a bone tumor grows, it presses and destroys the healthy bone tissue. It causes the following symptoms:

Pain

 The earliest symptom of bone cancer is the pain and swelling in the area where the tumor is located. The pain will come and go first, but it will become more severe later.

Joint Swelling and Stiffness

 A tumor near a joint may cause the joint to swell and become tender. This means that the person will have limited or no movement.

Limping

Limping occurs when a bone with a tumor breaks. Limping is usually a later stage in sarcoma.

Fractures

 Bones weakened by cancer may be prone to fractures and even to minimal trauma or stress.

Other symptoms of bone tumors include:

• Fever
• Night Sweats
• Fatigue
• Weight Loss

Causes of Bone Cancer

It is a well-known fact that cancer occurs when a specific area in your body starts dividing and multiplying rapidly. This will produce a lump of tissue known as a tumor. The exact reason why it happens is not known, but some things can increase your risk of developing bone cancer.

Radiotherapy

 If you have ever been exposed to high doses of radiation during radiotherapy, it can cause cancerous changes in your bone cells.

Bone conditions

• Certain non-cancerous conditions affect your bones and can increase the risk of cancer.
• Paget disease of bone can increase the risk of bone cancer
• Olliers Disease can also increase the risk of bone cancer

Genetic Conditions

• A rare genetic condition called Li-Fraumeni syndrome can increase your risk of developing bone cancer, as well as several other types of cancer. People with this condition have a faulty version of a gene that usually helps stop the growth of tumors in the body.

Other Conditions

• People who have a rare type of eye cancer called retinoblastoma as a child may be more likely to develop bone cancer because the same inherited faulty gene is responsible for both conditions.
• Research has also found that babies born with an umbilical hernia are three times more likely to develop a type of bone cancer called Ewing sarcoma, although the risk is still minimal.

Staging In Bone Cancer

 Doctors classify bone cancer in stages. These stages describe where the cancer is and how much it has affected the body.

Stage 1: In stage 1 bone cancer, the cancer has not spread from the bone.

Stage 2: In this stage, the cancer has not spread but may become invasive, threatening the surrounding tissue.

Stage 3: In this stage of bone cancer, the cancer has spread to one or more areas of bone and is invasive too.

Stage 4: The cancer has spread to the tissues surrounding the bone and other organs.

Treatment of Bone Cancer

If your tumor is benign, your doctor will treat it with medication or might watch it. They may remove benign tumors that are more likely to spread or become cancerous. In some cases, tumors come back, even after treatment.

Cancerous tumors need more robust treatment and care from many specialists. Your treatment will depend on several things, like the stage of the cancer and how far it has spread. Cancer cells only in the bone tumor and the surrounding area are at a “localized” stage. Those that apply to or from other areas of your body are more serious and harder to treat.

Common treatments for bone cancer include:

 Limb salvage surgery.

Your doctor will remove the part of the bone with cancer but not nearby muscles, tendons, or other tissues. They will put a metallic implant in place of the bone.

Amputation

 If a tumor is large or reaches your nerves and blood vessels, your doctor will remove the limb. You can get a prosthetic limb afterward.

Radiation therapy.

It kills cancer cells and shrinks tumors with solid X-rays. Doctors often use it along with surgery.

Chemotherapy.

 It kills tumor cells with cancer drugs. Your doctor might use it before, after, or for metastatic cancer.

Targeted therapy.

It is a drug treatment that targets specific genetic, protein, or other changes in or around cancer cells.

The Role of Healthcare Institutions

 When it comes to the treatment of bone cancer in India, the top healthcare institutions like Apollo, Max, and Fortis play a very crucial role in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer. The hospital has the latest facilities, advanced diagnostic techniques, and a team of specialists, including orthopedic surgeons, oncologists, radiologists, and supportive care professionals.

Moreover, these hospitals regularly participate in research and clinical trials to improve patient outcomes.

If you are planning bone cancer treatment in India, contact us at info@crossbordrercare.com, and we will create the best treatment plan for you in India.