Treatments available for bone cancer

 

What is the treatment for bone cancer? In order to treat bone cancer, there are many different methods available for doctors to use. Before the doctors decide the most suitable treatment for the patient, there are several factors which must be considered first. Those factors including the type of bone cancer, the location of the cancer, how aggressive the cancer is, the size of the tumour, the person’s age and general health, and whether or not the cancer has invaded surrounding or distant tissues (metastasized). Surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy are the three main types of treatment for bone cancer. Those methods can be used either individually or combined with each other. However, most patients need a combination of these treatments. 1.      Surgery The purpose of surgery is normally to remove the entire tumour and a surrounding area of normal bone. It is a common way to treat bone cancer. After the tumour has been removed, a pathologist will examine it to determine if there is normal bone completely surrounding the tumour, in order to determine whether the surgery is successful or not. If a portion of the cancer is left behind, it can still continue to grow and spread. In this case, the patient will require further treatment. In the opposite, if the tumour specimen has normal cells completely surrounding it, there is a much better chance that the entire tumour has been removed and less chance for recurrence. Historically, amputations were frequently used to remove bone cancer. Sometimes, a doctor has no choice but to amputate part or all an affected limb in order to fight the cancer. Amputation is necessary when the tumour has extended into blood vessels or nerves, or when the tumour is so big that a limb-sparing procedure is not possible. When performing an amputation, surgeons will purposely leave extra muscle and skin around the end of the limb in order to allow the patient to later be fitted with a prosthesis, or artificial limb. The availability of latest techniques has decreased the need for amputation. In many cases, the tumour can be removed with a rim of normal bone without the need for an amputation. The surgeon will replace something in its location, depending on the amount of bone removed. For smaller areas, this may be either bone cement or a bone graft from another place in your body or from the bone bank. For larger areas, the surgeon may place larger grafts from the bone bank or metal implants. Some of these metal implants have the ability to lengthen when used in growing children. Unfortunately, there are risks and side effects with each of the treatments for bone cancer. The main risks associated with surgery include infection, recurrence of the cancer, and injury to the surrounding tissues. In order to remove the entire cancer and reduce the risk of recurrence, some surrounding normal tissue must also be removed. Depending on the location of the cancer, this may require the removal of portions of bone, muscle, nerves, or blood vessels. This could cause weakness, loss of sensation, and the risk of fracture of the remaining bone. As referring to a rehabilitation specialist for physical and occupational therapy after surgery, it can help to improve the patient’s strength and function. 2.      Chemotherapy Chemotherapy comprises a number of effective intravenous prescription drugs targeted at stopping and reversing the development of cancer cells. Chemotherapy is actually run by an oncologist and may be given as pills or by injection. It is generally employed just before surgery to contract the tumour, creating surgery a smaller amount invasive. In the other way, it’s employed like a safeguard to kill any remaining cancer cells immediately after the surgery is taken. Chemotherapy uses very powerful medication to try to kill cancer cells as the medications are purposely designed to kill rapidly dividing or growing cells. However, some normal cells are also killed in the process. The normal cells that are affected usually include hair, blood-forming cells, and cells lining the digestive system. Side effects include nausea and vomiting, loss of hair, infection, and fatigue. Fortunately, these side effects normally resolve after the chemotherapy is over. Good and balance nutrition is vital for the patient’s body to against the cancer.  Patient who experiences nausea and loss of appetite is advised to refer to nutrition specialist to help with this.  3.      Radiation Radiation therapy will try to kill the cancer cells by using high-energy X-ray aimed at the affected site of the cancer. The radiation damages the DNA in the cells and causes them to die. Cancer cells are more likely to be affected by the radiation because they divide more rapidly. Unfortunately, some healthy normal cells are also destroyed during this kind of treatment. Radiation therapy is given in small doses daily over a period of days to months. As with chemotherapy, radiation therapy can be used either before or after a potential surgery, depending on the specific type of cancer. With external radiation therapy which does not require a hospital stay, a large machine points a beam of radiation at the affected area. The patient goes to the hospital to receive treatment when necessary, but he or she can go home that same day. Radiation therapy is painless, but it does cause side effects. The main side effects from radiation therapy include tiredness, nausea, fatigue, loss of appetite, and damage to the surrounding skin and soft tissues. Prior radiation therapy can also increase the risk of wound problems from surgery in the same area.