Bone sarcoma
Bone sarcoma is a malignant tumor of hard tissue. The disease differs from cancer in that a cancerous tumor begins with the infection of epithelial cells located in the internal cavity of organs. The development of malignant neoplasms in sarcoma is not associated with damage to cells of any specific organs. A sarcoma is characterized by a more active and progressive tumor growth than a cancerous lesion.
Content:
- Varieties of hard tissue sarcoma
- Causes of the disorder
- Symptoms of the disease
- Methods for diagnosing the disease
- How to recover from bone sarcoma?
- Medical prognosis for patients with bone sarcoma
Varieties of hard tissue sarcoma
Hard tissue sarcoma manifests itself in several forms, including:
- osteosarcoma;
- parostal sarcoma;
- Ewing's sarcoma;
- chondrosarcoma;
- reticulosarcoma.
Causes of the disorder
The etymology of the development of pathology has so far been little studied by specialists. Doctors identify a number of common factors that together can cause a malignant neoplasm.
Among such reasons:
- high levels of food carcinogens;
- a large amount of viruses, radiation and harmful chemical influences to which the human body is regularly exposed;
- the presence of increased injuries.
These factors can trigger the onset of bone sarcoma. Most often, malignant formations develop on the basis of benign tissue changes.
Femoral sarcoma usually occurs in children and adolescents when there is increased growth of tissues and organs. Medical experts have established that male patients with high growth most often suffer from this pathology.
Symptoms of the disease
A person with sarcoma will suffer from the following clinical manifestations of this disorder:
- pain in the area of the affected area of the bone. Such pain, as a rule, does not stop after taking pain relievers in the usual dose;
- violation of the normal functioning of the area where the malignant neoplasm develops. For example, if the lower jaw is affected, the patient will have difficulty chewing food;
- an increase in the level of swelling in the area of the body part suffering from sarcoma. Severe swelling in the patient's lower extremities makes the venous network visible in the legs;
- pathological fractures;
- unreasonable weight loss;
- increased body temperature;
- sleep disturbance;
- weakness, fatigue;
- anemia.
Methods for diagnosing the disease
Patient examination should be comprehensive. To begin with, a patient who complains of bone pain is prescribed an X-ray examination. Detection of a tumor can occur after obtaining the results of cytological and histological.
So, the patient goes through:
- positron emission tomography;
- magnetic resonance imaging;
- extended blood count;
- biopsy;
- research of bones by radioisotope method;
- examination by an orthopedic oncologist.
Significant importance in diagnosis is attached to the definition of the stage of the disease. For physicians, the question of whether distant metastases have spread throughout the body is of paramount importance. Correct determination of the stage of bone sarcoma allows developing the most effective course of treatment for the patient.
How to recover from bone sarcoma?
The surgical method is recognized as the most common treatment for malignant neoplasms of hard tissues. If, after surgery, the tumor is completely removed, then all body functions will retain their normal work. With a positive outcome of the operation at the initial stage of the disease, the patient will not receive disability and will be able to continue his normal life without any restrictions.
Additional treatments:
Radiation therapy, during which the patient receives a safe dose of radiation, the effect of which contributes to the destruction of cancer cells.
Patients undergoing radiation therapy may suffer from:
- local side effects in the form of burns;
- systemic side effects, they manifest in the form of fatigue, general weakness, hair loss, brittle nails, nausea and vomiting;
- chemotherapy, which involves treating a tumor with poisonous and toxic substances that counteract the causative agent of sarcoma. Chemotherapy drugs are designed to destroy tumor cells and restore the activity of the affected areas.
Among the consequences of passing this method of treatment are:
- discoloration of the skin and nail plates;
- anemia;
- loss of appetite;
- decreased memory and attention;
- nervous disorders;
- increased swelling;
- disorders of urination.
The described methods of getting rid of the tumor are used both before surgery and after surgery.
In a number of countries such a method of treatment for malignant tumors as virotherapy is used. Virotherapy refers to treatment with cancer viruses. Scientific studies prove that the named method helps to destroy malignant cells and increase the immunity of a patient who suffers from exposure to radioactive and chemical substances.
Medical prognosis for patients with bone sarcoma
The earlier the disease was diagnosed, the more favorable the medical prognosis of specialists. The effectiveness of treatment will also depend on the degree of malignancy of the tumor. It is believed that sarcoma in elderly patients is milder than in adolescents. After the onset of the last stage of development of sarcoma, patients, as a rule, can live no more than 3-5 years.
Treatment for bone sarcoma is a rather painful and lengthy process. Even after a cure, the disease can reassert itself. In some cases, relapse may occur 10 years after treatment.
The author of the article: Bykov Evgeny Pavlovich | Oncologist, surgeon
Education: graduated from residency at the Russian Scientific Oncological Center. N. N. Blokhin "and received a diploma in the specialty" Oncologist"
