Bone Cancer Treatment & Symptom
Bone tumor is an inexact term, which can be used for both benign and malignant abnormal growths found in bone, but is most commonly used for primary tumors of bone , such as osteosarcoma (or osteoma) . The condition affects more children than adults. More often, cancer cells spread (metastasize) to the bones from other areas of cancer in your body. Osteosarcoma and Ewing's sarcoma occur most often in children, adolescents and young adults, ages 10 to 25. Chondrosarcoma is more common in adults. Bones are made up of living cells (called osteocytes, osteoclasts and osteoblasts) bound together by a hard, calcium-like material. This makes the bone strong and rigid. The bones are hollow and filled with a spongy material called marrow, which produces the blood cells. The joints of the bones are covered in cartilage a tough, flexible material, rather like gristle. As cartilage is more elastic than bone it allows the bones to move freely at the joints. It also cushions the bones at the joints to stop them rubbing against each other. The bones have several important functions. The skeleton gives the body rigid support and the joints act as levers so that the body can move. The bones also protect organs in the body: for example, the ribcage protects the heart and lungs. They also store some of the body's essential minerals, especially calcium. Treatment of bone cancer depends on the type of bone cancer, as well as its location, size and stage.
Bone cancer is a sarcoma that arises in the bone. The most common types of primary bone cancer are osteosarcomas, chondrosarcomas and the Ewing's family of tumors. There are about 2,500 new cases each year in the U. S., making primary bone cancer relatively rare. Cancers that arise in the cells produced in the bone marrow, such as leukemia, multiple myeloma, and lymphoma, are not considered bone cancers, although they do affect the bone and may require or thopaedic management. Benign (noncancerous) bone tumors are more common than malignant (cancerous) ones. Although benign tumors do not spread and are rarely life threatening, both types may grow and compress healthy bone tissue and absorb or replace it with abnormal tissue.
Causes of Bone Cancer
Common Causes of Bone Cancer :
- Multiple exostoses (also called multiple osteochondromas; causes bumps on the bones that may be painful and cause deformities and fractures).
- Retinoblastoma (cancer of the retina; usually occurs in children).
- Paget disease (chronic disease that results in deformed or enlarged bones).
Symptoms of Bone Cancer
Some common Symptoms of Bone Cancer :
- Fever.
- Anemia.
- Fatigue.
- Unexplained weight loss.
- Joint and bone swelling.
- Inability to move freely.
- Frequent bone fracture.
Treatment of Bone Cancer
- If your pet has bone cancer of the lower part of the radius bone, a limb sparing procedure can be done as an alternative to amputation. The cancerous portion of bone is removed and replaced with a living bone graft. Very good function of the limb is expected after the bone graft heals in place (2 to 3 months).
- If you elect to not have the limb amputated and chemotherapy done, a couple of large doses of radiation can be administered to the site to decrease the pain. If no treatment is going to be administered to a pet that has bone cancer and the pet is in pain, euthanasia is recommended.
|
