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Commonly occurring symptoms of bone cancer are:
In advanced cases of bone cancer, some people may experience the following symptoms:
Contact your doctor immediately if you or your child experience bone pain that frequently comes and goes, worsens at night, or isn’t reduced with painkillers.
Since bone cancer is rare, diagnosing it can be challenging. After performing a thorough physical evaluation, your doctor may recommend you to undergo a blood test to determine levels of alkaline phosphatase and lactate dehydrogenase, both of which are higher in people with sarcoma. X-ray of the affected area may be advised to determine the location and size of the tumour. If bone cancer is detected in an x-ray, imaging tests like bone scans, CT and PET scans, and MRI are prescribed as they provide detailed information about the location of cancer, its size, nature, spread and stage. A biopsy is performed to confirm the type of cells in the bone cancer.
Bone cancer treatment options are decided based on your cancer type, its stage at the time of diagnosis, and your overall health. Since different bone cancers respond differently to treatments, your doctor and healthcare team will be able to devise the best plan for you.
Treatment options for bone cancer are:
In the early stages of bone cancer, surgery is used to remove the cancerous tissue altogether. Some healthy surrounding tissue may be removed with the cancerous tissue to prevent a recurrence. If the entire bone needs to be removed, it is usually replaced with an artificial one.
Advanced stage 3 and stage 4 bone cancer that has spread to other parts of the body are hard to treat. Treatments provided help relieve symptoms, prolong one’s life and improve their quality of living.
Chemotherapy and bone cancer are often spoken about pertaining to treating the condition and involve the use of drugs to kill cancer cells. This treatment is recommended for people with Ewing’s sarcoma and those just diagnosed with osteosarcoma.
High-energy radiation is used to kill cancer cells. It may be combined with surgery and chemotherapy to eliminate cancer cells.
Other treatments that may be effective in treating bone cancers are cryosurgery and targeted therapy.