Bone Cancer Treatment without Organ Removal

Bone cancer is a disease caused by abnormal growth of the bone tissue which cannot be regulated or prevented by the body. Consequently, cancerous tumors or cancer wounds develop in the bone tissues. Bone cancer is often found in older children from 10-20 years of age, and two methods are available to diagnose bone cancer as follows:

 

1. X-ray Diagnosis

2. Lab Tissue Testing 

 

Major symptoms of bone cancer include pain, joint inflammation, abnormal masses, broken bones caused by pathology, nervous system abnormalities and other symptoms like weight loss, fatigue, fever, anemia and hypercalcemia. 

 

Although the cause for cancer cells to develop in the bones remains unclear, it seems there are several risk factors for the disease such as the following: 

 

  -    Genetic abnormalities or disorders.

  -    Exposure to environmental factors such as chemicals, pesticides and radiation.

  -    Treatment of other types of cancer such as chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

Surgery is the primary treatment option for bone cancer. It is usually performed alongside radiotherapy and chemotherapy in order to eliminate cancer cells. Today, limb-salvage and limb-sparing surgery is recommended to give patients better quality of life, that is, to allow them to live normally without losing their arms or legs.

 

In some cases it is necessary to surgically remove organs from the patient resulting in organ loss and disability. This affects quality of life and reduces the ability for daily living. The patient’s appearance can be changed to the point of losing confidence.

 

However, endoprostheses are available today to help reduce patient concerns about losing their organs, especially in pediatric patients. In surgeries that make use of endoprostheses, doctors will cut surrounding bone and tissue, and for the most part it is possible to remove tumors or traces of cancer without having to remove the limbs. Afterwards, doctors will insert a special artificial joint made of metal to replace any missing bones. This special artificial joint is strong and durable and enables the patient to return to normal living with all organs present and better quality of life than undergoing an organ-removing operation. Nevertheless, some patients might require the removal of their limb or limbs due to a very large size of their tumors or pressure on nearby blood vessels and nerves which prevents limb-salvage or limb-sparing surgery from being performed. As a result, the type of surgery chosen also depends on the characteristics of the disease.