Stages of Bone Cancer

-Tests to determine the extent (stage) of the bone cancer-

Once diagnoses of bone cancer is made, oncologists determine the extent of spread (stage) of the cancer. Treatment options are guided by the cancer’s stage.

Stages of bone cancer include:Stage I -Bone cancer is limited to the bone and hasn’t spread to other areas of the body. After biopsy testing, cancer at this stage is considered low grade and is not considered aggressive.Stage II – Bone cancer is limited to the bone and hasn’t spread to other areas of the body. Biopsy testing usually reveals that the bone cancer is high grade and is considered aggressive.Stage III – Bone cancer occurs in two or more places on the same bone.Stage IV – Bone cancer indicates that cancer has spread beyond the bone to other areas of the body, such as the brain, liver or lungs.

Prevention of Bone Cancer

The treatment options for bone cancer are based on the type of cancer, the stage of the cancer, overall health of the patient and their preferences. Bone cancer treatment typically involves surgery, chemotherapy, radiation or a combination of treatments.

Surgery

** The goal of surgery is to remove the entire bone cancer. To accomplish this, surgical oncologists remove the tumor along with a margin of surrounding healthy tissues that surrounds it. Types of surgery used to treat bone cancer include:

1. Surgery to remove the cancer, but spare the limb -If a bone cancer can be separated from nerves and other tissue, the surgical oncologist is able to remove the bone cancer and spare the limb. Since some of the bone is removed with the cancer, the surgeon replaces the lost bone with some bone from another part of the body or with a special metal prosthesis. Intense rehabilitative therapy may be necessary after limb-sparing surgery to make the affected arm or leg to become fully functional.
2. Surgery to remove a limb -Bone cancers that are large or located in a complicated point on the bone require surgery to remove all or part of a limb (amputation). As other treatments have been developed, this procedure is becoming less common. After surgery an artificial limb is fitted and training is given to do everyday tasks using new limb.
3. Surgery for cancer that doesn’t affect the limbs – If bone cancer occurs in bones other than those of the arms and legs, surgeons may remove the bone and some surrounding tissue, such as in cancer that affects a rib, or may remove the cancer while preserving as much of the bone as possible, such as in cancer that affects the spine. Bone removed during surgery can be replaced with a piece of bone from another area of the body or with a special metal prosthesis.

Radiation therapy

** Radiation therapy uses high-powered beams of energy, to kill cancer cells. During radiation therapy, patients lie on a table while a linear accelerator moves around you and aims the energy beams at precise points on the body. At Dr. Meenu Walia Hospital, we have the most advanced VMAT Radiation Technology to treat cancer patient.

** Preoperative radiation therapy may be used to shrink a bone cancer to increase the likelihood that the surgical oncologist can remove the entire cancer with surgery. In this situation, radiation therapy may be combined with chemotherapy.

** Radiation therapy may also be used in people with bone cancer that can’t be removed with surgery. It may also be used after surgery to kill any cancer cells that may be left behind. For people with advanced bone cancer, radiation therapy may help control signs and symptoms, such as pain.

Chemotherapy

** Chemotherapy is a drug treatment that uses chemicals to kill cancer cells. Chemotherapy is most often given through a vein (intravenously). The chemotherapy medications travel throughout the body.

** Chemotherapy is often used before surgery, usually in combination with radiation therapy, to shrink a bone cancer to a more manageable size that allows the surgical oncologist to use a limb-sparing surgery. Chemotherapy may also be used in people with bone cancer that has spread beyond the bone to other parts of the body.