About Osteosarcoma
Osteosarcoma is also called as osteogenic sarcoma.
Osteosarcoma is a type of cancer of the bone that starts in the cells that form bones. Osteosarcoma is most frequently found in the long bones like mostly in the legs, but sometimes in the arms but it can start in any bone. In very rare cases, it take place in soft tissue outside the bone.
Osteosarcoma tends to happens in teenagers and young adults, but it can also happens in younger children and older adults.
Treatment Generally includes chemotherapy, surgery and, sometimes, radiation therapy. selection of treatment options is done by doctor on the basis of where the osteosarcoma starts, the size of the cancer, the type and grade of the osteosarcoma, and if the cancer has spread beyond the bone.
Treatment revolution for osteosarcoma have improved very much the outlook (prognosis) for this cancer over the years. After completion of treatment, lifelong monitoring is suggested to watch for potential late effects of severe treatments.
Osteosarcoma Symptoms :-
Signs and symptoms include, among others :
• Swelling near a bone,
• Bone or joint pain,
• Any injury in bone or bone break for no clear reason.
When to See a Doctor :-
Make an appointment with your doctor if your child has any of the continuous signs and symptoms that worry you. Osteosarcoma symptoms are similar to many more common conditions, such as injuries while playing sports, so your doctor may investigate those causes first.Osteosarcoma Causes :-
This is not clear that what causes osteosarcoma. Doctors know this cancer js forms when there something goes wrong in one of the cells which are responsible for making new bone.Osteosarcoma begins when a healthy bone cell starts changes in its DNA. A cell's DNA carry the command that tell a cell what to do. The convert tell the cell to start making a new bone when it is not needed. The result is a mass (tumor) of badly formed bone cells that can demolish healthy body tissue. Cells can break away and can lay out (metastasize) all over the body.
Osteosarcoma Risk Fctors :-
These factors increase the risk of osteosarcoma :
• Any previous treatment with radiation therapy,
• Other disorganization of bones, such as Paget's disease of bone and fibrous dysplasia,
• Certain inherited or genetic conditions, involving hereditary retinoblastoma, Bloom syndrome, Li-Fraumeni syndrome, Rothmund-Thomson syndrome and Werner syndrome.
Osteosarcoma Complications :-
Complications of osteosarcoma and its treatment include :
• Cancer that spreads (metastasizes)-
Osteosarcoma can transmit from where it started to other areas. It makes more difficulty in treatment and recovery. Osteosarcoma that spreads most frequently spreads to the lungs and to other bones.
• Adapting to limb amputation-
This is a surgery that removes the tumor and spares the limb is used whenever possible. But sometimes it is necessary to remove part of the affected limb in order to remove all of the cancer. Learn how to use an artificial limb (prosthesis) will take time, practice and patience. Experts can help you change.
• Long-term treatment side effects-
The aggressive chemotherapy needed to control osteosarcoma can give rise to substantial side effects, both in the short and long term. Your health care doctor and team can help you control the side effects that happen during treatment and prepare you with a list of side effects to watch for in the years after the treatment.
Osteosarcoma Treatment :-
Treatment depends on stage. Treatment commonly involves surgery, chemotherapy and radiation.
( A ) Medical procedure :
• Radiation therapy -
In this treatment x-rays and other high-energy rays are used to kill abnormal cells.
( B ) Medication :
• Chemotherapy -
In this treatment unwanted reactions to drugs given for the purpose of killing the cancer cells.
• Chemotherapy protective drugs -
This reduces the side effects of chemotherapy treatment.
( C ) Surgery :
• Amputation -
Surgical removal of a limb.
• Bone grafting -
Surgical arrangment of new bone around the fractures to help them heal.
• Wide local excision -
Surgical removal of a tiny area of tissue, with a margin of normal tissue far away from the border of disease.
( D ) Devices :
• Prosthesis -
An artificial replacement for a missing body part, such as a leg, tooth or eye.