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Bone sarcoma belongs to the group of malignant tumors of hard tissues. The disease differs from cancer in that a cancerous tumor begins with infection of epithelial cells located in the internal cavity of organs. The development of malignant neoplasms in sarcoma is not associated with damage to the cells of any specific organs. Sarcoma is characterized by a more active and progressive growth of the tumor than that of a cancerous lesion.
Varieties of hard tissue sarcoma
Hard tissue sarcoma manifests itself in several forms, including:
osteosarcoma;
parosteal 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 these reasons:
high levels of carcinogens eaten;
a large amount of viruses, radiation and harmful chemical effects to which the human body is regularly exposed;
the presence of increased trauma.
These factors can provoke the occurrence of bone sarcoma. Most often, malignant tumors develop on the basis of benign tissue changes.
Sarcoma of the femur usually occurs in individuals in childhood and adolescence, when there is increased growth of tissues and organs. Medical experts have found that male patients with high stature 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 affected area of the bone. Such pain, as a rule, is not stopped after taking painkillers in the usual dose;
violation of the normal order of functioning of the area where a 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 uXNUMXbuXNUMXbthe part of the body suffering from sarcoma. Severe swelling in the lower extremities of the patient makes visible the venous network on the legs;
pathological fractures;
causeless weight loss;
increased body temperature;
sleep disturbance;
weakness, fatigue;
anemia.
Methods for diagnosing the disease
The examination of the patient must be comprehensive. To begin with, a patient who complains of bone pain is prescribed an X-ray examination. Identification of the tumor can occur after receiving the results of cytological and histological.
So, the patient goes through:
positron emission tomography;
magnetic resonance imaging;
advanced blood test;
biopsy;
examination of bones by radioisotope method;
examination by an orthopedic oncologist.
Significant importance in the diagnosis is given to determining the stage of the disease. For physicians, the question of whether distant metastases have spread throughout the body is of paramount importance. The correct determination of the stage of bone sarcoma allows us to develop the most effective course of treatment for the patient.
How to recover from bone sarcoma?
The surgical method is recognized as the most common method of treatment for malignant neoplasms of hard tissues. If, after surgery, the tumor is completely removed, then all body functions will retain their normal operation. 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 themselves in the form of fatigue, general weakness, hair loss, brittle nails, nausea and vomiting;
chemotherapy, which involves the treatment of 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 undergoing such a method of treatment are:
discoloration of the skin and nail plates;
anemia;
deterioration of appetite;
decreased memory and attention;
nervous disorders;
increased swelling;
urination disorders.
The described methods of getting rid of the tumor are used both before and after surgery.
In a number of countries, such a method of treatment for malignant tumors as virotherapy is used. Virotherapy refers to the treatment of oncological diseases with the help of viruses. Scientific studies prove that this 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 patients in the elderly proceeds more mildly than in individuals in adolescence. 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 reappear. In some cases, relapse may occur up to 10 years after treatment.