Bone cancer, or osteogenic sarcoma, most often develops during puberty, characterized by rapid growth of bone tissue. But the cause of the disease is of a genetic nature - scientists have been able to identify a gene responsible for the tendency to bone cancer. The visible signs of this disease can only appear in the late stages.
Symptoms of osteogenic sarcoma
Most often, the cancer affects the tubular bones near the main joints. In 80% of cases, the tumor affects the knee area. Also, sarcoma is often found in the femoral and humeral bones. Almost no cases of osteogenic sarcoma in the radius were recorded. Unfortunately, the disease proceeds fairly quickly and actively spreads metastases to the lungs and nearby joints. By the time of detection, 60% of patients already have micrometastases, and 30% have full metastases in soft tissue and vessel walls. Here's why it's important to listen to your body and not ignore the signs of the illness:
- dull, aching pain, worse at night;
- lameness;
- decreased mobility of the joint;
- edema and an increase in the extremities in the volume.
Depending on the location of the tumor, additional signals may appear. Symptom of osteogenic sarcoma of the femur is pain in the hip joint, which gives back to the spine. The imposition of gypsum and other methods of immobilization do not lead to the removal of the pain syndrome. Anesthetics are not effective.
Symptom of osteogenic sarcoma of the jaw is severe toothache and tooth loss. There may be an increase in temperature and suppression of the masticatory function. Often develop permanent headaches, loss of concentration. Osteogenic sarcoma of the jaw is practically the only exception when the cancer affects a flat, rather than a tubular bone.
Treatment of osteogenic bone sarcoma
The disease develops very quickly and the prognosis is mostly unfavorable. This is especially true for elderly patients who developed sarcoma in the background of old injuries. Surgery often does not work, so chemotherapy is indicated. There have been cases when ionizing therapy (irradiation) has become a provoking factor, therefore this kind of therapy is used in this area with extreme caution.
In general, the most popular treatment scheme is still operative removal of malignant cells with subsequent sparing chemotherapy .