Bone cancer is the uncontrolled division of cells in the bone. Like all the other types of cancers it can also be present as a small mass in a specific part of the body or can spread to the surroundings and other areas of the body, which is known as metastatic cancer. The cancers develop in the bone itself is primary bone cancer which is very rare and present in less than 1% of the cases. Mostly the cancer spreads from other parts of the body to reach bone and this is the most common type in case of bone cancer. In India, bone cancer is mostly present in the age group of 11-20 years. Bone cancer can be of many types such as osteosarcoma, Ewing’s sarcoma, chondrosarcoma, multiple myeloma and sarcoma. Osteosarcoma is the most common type of bone cancer. The prognosis after bone cancer usually depends on the stage of disease, location of tumor, patient’s general health and to which extent the cancer has spread. For some individuals, cancer can be cured completely but in most cases it may spread to other parts which make it difficult to completely eradicate the cancer. For such cases, the combination of the treatment is used instead of a single treatment.
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:
Chemotherapy - 300 USD - 600 USD
Radiation therapy : 3800 USD - 5800 USD
Surgery : 5000 USD - 7000 USD
Others : 500 USD - 800 USD
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.
06/17/2024
