Sarcomas (Bone Cancer)

• Bone pain
• Swelling and tenderness near the joint
• Difficulty in normal movements
• Broken bone
• Fatigue
• Unintended weight loss

Most of the patients who develop bone cancer do not have any risk factor. However, certain factors are associated with an increased risk, including:

• Inherited genetic syndromes like Li-Fraumeni syndrome and Hereditary Retinoblastoma
• Pagets disease of bone that occurs mostly in older adults
• Exposure to large doses of radiation, such as those given during radiation therapy for cancer, increases the risk of bone cancer in the future

• Stage I: The tumor is low grade, has not spread to any lymph nodes or to other parts of the body.
• Stage II: The tumor is high grade but has not spread to any lymph nodes or to other parts of the body.
• Stage III: Multiple tumours in the primary bone site, but they have not spread to any lymph nodes or to other parts of the body.
• Stage IV: Tumors have spread to the lung(s) and/or other organs besides lungs

Primary diagnosis

Medical history, Physical examination

Secondary diagnosis

Imaging tests like radiographs, MRI and/or CT scan, Biopsy (sample of tissue from the tumour)

Advanced diagnosis

Bone scan, PET scan, CT scan of chest etc.

Surgery is the main treatment for bone cancers. Some bone cancers like Osteosarcomas and Ewings sarcomas require courses of chemotherapy before and after surgery.

Limb sparing surgeries, which remove the cancer cells but allow you to keep optimal use of your leg or arm are the most common surgeries performed for the management of these tumours. Reconstruction after tumour removal is usually done with Megaprosthesis or recycling of tumour bone with re-implantation.

We at Kokilaben Hospital are using state of art techniques for limb salvage surgeries like modular megaprosthesis, recycling of tumour bones with re-implantation into the patients, rotationplasty and extendible prosthesis for children.

Reported outcome

• Bone sarcomas can occur at any age but are more common during growth phase
• If you have any risk factors, it is a good idea to discuss them with your healthcare provider.