Bone Cancer Treatment And Prognosis
- Operative removal of the tumor
- Radiation
- Chemotherapy
Operative removal of the tumor
In surgery, to remove the tumor as widely as possible. Various techniques have been developed such as computer navigation, fluorescence surgery, and preoperative radiotherapy.
Sometimes it is necessary to remove a part of the affected bone. In some cases, it is necessary to remove the entire bone. In a benign tumor, less bone is usually removed than in malignancies. In a benign tumor, chemotherapy or radiation is almost never needed. Sometimes it is not even necessary to treat a benign swine. In case of an operation, first visit the anesthesist. He/she discusses the pain and anesthesia with him.
After surgery, a pathologist studies the removed tissue. Sometimes, the pathologist still finds living tumor cells in the edge (boundary) of the tissue. It is then necessary to perform an operation again, removing more tissue. In many cases, radiotherapy (radiation) is followed.
Replace bone
The removed bone part can often be replaced. This can be done with a:
- Joint or bone prosthesis;
- Donor bone. This is from a bone bank;
- Bone transplant, for example from your calf to the removed part of the bone;
- Combination of the above.
- Art and amputation
An illustration shows how a knee prosthesis functions
If a tumor is close to a joint, it is not always possible to maintain the joint. An artificial joint can then be a solution. When it is not possible to remove the tumor safely without losing the function of a limb, amputation is sometimes the only alternative. This affects about 1 in 15 patients.
Chemotherapy and radiation
An operation is almost always necessary for the treatment of a bone cancer. Whether or not you get chemotherapy and/or irradiated depends mainly on the type of bone cancer you have. Sometimes it is better to first ensure that any non-observable or proven metastases are treated or prevented by chemotherapy.
In Ewing and Osteosarcoma, you will first receive chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy. This is called neoadjuvant chemotherapy. If chemotherapy is given after surgery, this called adjuvant chemotherapy. This (neo) adjuvant therapy is aimed at improving your prognosis.
In a chondrosarcoma usually operate directly, without prior chemotherapy or radiation. Because a chondrosarcoma is quite insensitive to chemotherapy or radiotherapy.
Because malignant bone tumors are very different, it is difficult to give a general prognosis. The treatment is initially aimed at curing you. This often means to remove the tumor and prevent the tumor from returning. This is a curative treatment. Sometimes the tumor can no longer be removed because it is too close to important organs or has already been sown to places in the lungs and/or other organs.
According to American Cancer Society, the 5-year relative survival is about 70% for all cases of bone cancer combined (in both adults and children). 80 percent for chondrosarcomas, and about 60 to 80 percent for osteosarcomas and Ewing sarcomas that are still in the area where they started (localized) but only 15 to 30 percent if the cancer has spread to distant parts of the body.
*Image source : Air Combat Command
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