Bone Cancer Treatment India

Types of Bone Cancer Treatment India

Some of the treatment options which are available in treating the bone cancer are:

• Chemotherapy
• Radiation therapy
• Targeted drug therapy
• Immunotherapy 
• Surgery

Chemotherapy

The drugs in this treatment are taken either orally or injected into the vein, which then enters the tumor site and kills the cancer cells. For the cancer which has spread to other areas rather than locating in a single place, the chemotherapy will be preferred due to its systemic availability. Some of the drugs used to treat the bone cancer are:

• Etoposide (VP-16)
• Ifosfamide
• Cyclophosphamide
• Doxorubicin (Adriamycin)
• Cisplatin

Radiation Therapy

Radiation therapy uses high energy rays to destroy the cancer cells. Some of the procedures used in radiation therapy are as follows:

External beam radiation therapy: uses high energy x-rays from the source outside the body and directs the rays into the tumor by passing through the skin. The powerful x- rays destroy the tumor cells.

Intensity modulated radiation therapy: throws the high energy rays from different angles to the tumor in order to kill the maximum of the cancer cells. They limit the damage of normal cells in the surrounding area.

Stereotactic radiosurgery: uses a very high dose of radiations to a very small size of tumor. It usually takes place in a single session.

Proton beam radiation therapy: uses protons instead of x-rays to kill the tumor cells. This is important for the delicate locations to limit the strong radiations to the surrounding.

Target Drug Therapy

These drugs limit the growth of cancer cells by blocking the specific proteins in the tumor cells which promote their growth. Some of the drugs used are:

• Sunitinib 
• Erlotinib 
• Lapatinib 
• Sorafenib

Immunotherapy

This treatment involves the use of the body's natural defense mechanism against the tumor growing cells. These drugs are:

• Pembrolizumab
• Interferon alfa-2b 

Surgery

The surgery to remove the tumor from bone cancer is not cosmetically suitable. It involves two main types:

Limb salvage surgery: This is limb-sparing surgery. It involves the removal of cancer cells and some surrounding normal tissue while keeping the limb in position.

Amputation: it is the removal of the affected arm or leg in which the cancer has spread widely and it is important to remove the whole limb to limit the cancer cell division.

Diagnosis of Bone Cancer Treatment India

Diagnosis of bone cancer:

X-Ray

The first test performed when a bone cancer is suspected is usually an x-ray of the bone. On an x-ray, tumors show the irregular appearing or like a hole in the bone instead of the solid tumor.

MRI (magnetic resonance imaging)

MRI is used for a more detailed look at a bone abnormality. MRIs are usually able to determine if it is more likely to be a tumor, an infection, or another kind of deep damage to the bones. It can also show the bone marrow and the soft tissues around the cancer, including local blood arteries and nerves.

PET (positron emission tomography) scan

PET scans are useful in determining if bone cancer has spread to the lungs, other bones, or other parts of the body. It can also be used to see the success rate of a treatment or how well the body is responding to the treatment.

Biopsy

The tissue cells extracted from the body either from a needle or by open surgery to test them under the laboratory. This will give the confirmed diagnosis of the presence of tumor cells in the bone.

Cost of Bone Cancer Treatment in India

In India, the treatment for bone cancer may cost from 300 to 3626 USD. It may vary according to the procedure which has been selected for the treatment, hospital facilities, doctors’ experience, patients’ health and city.

Different procedures and their cost for bone cancer treatment in India:

Symptoms and Risk factors

Some of the signs and symptoms appear when there is a tumor in the bone. These are:

• Bone pain
• Sweating during night
• Weight loss due to unknown reason
• High fever
• Swelling due to enlarged tumor
• Unexplained fatigue
• Weak bones
• Fracture
• Anemia
• Infections

Risk Factors for Developing Bone Cancer

Genetics

The people who have a positive family history of eye cancer are more prone to develop bone cancer in their course of life. Other positive family history of sarcoma greatly increases the chances of bone cancer in first degree relatives.

Previous Radiation Treatment

The individuals who have been treated with powerful radiations before are more likely to develop bone cancer in the same site they were receiving the radiations. It may represent after many years to even decades. So people who have received radiation therapy should be screened after every 4-5 years.

Benign Tumors

Fibrous dysplasia and Paget’s disease of bone in adults are the major risk factors for developing bone cancer. They increase the risk of the most common type of cancer which is osteosarcoma.

Cancers in Another Area

The cancer in any part of the body may spread and go to the bone via blood or by lymph nodes. The presence of cancer anywhere in the body can cause the cancer of bone.

Previous Chemotherapy Session

Some of the drug classes used in chemotherapy such as alkylating agents and anthracyclines are the risk factors to develop bone cancer.