As for any other cancer, bone cancer treatments are chosen depending on the type of the tumor, its size, location and the stage of disease. The age and general fitness of the patient are other important determinants. The current available modes of treatment include surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy and cryosurgery. These may be used singly or in combination.
Surgery is used for localized tumors . The tumor is removed in its entirety together with margins of normal tissue. This ensures that there are no residual tumor cells left behind thus reduces the possibility of recurrence. For many years amputation has been the option for patients with tumors involving the bones of the limbs. This is gradually changing with new advances in surgery. Minimal surgery on the limbs followed by reconstruction is now possible.
Chemotherapy involves the use of drugs to kill tumor cells. The drugs are normally given in combination to enhance their effect. Chondrosarcoma is one of the tumors that respond poorly to this mode of treatment. Some surgeries may require a course of chemotherapy to shrink the tumor size first.
The other commonly used mode is radiotherapy. Cancer cells are irradiated with high energy X-rays killing most of them. It is also given before and after surgeries just like chemotherapy. It is also administered in cases where the tumors are inoperable or in patients that voluntarily decline to undergo surgery. It is given in small doses over several days to minimize its effects on normal cells.
Cryosurgery is among the newest techniques used in treatment. It utilizes liquid nitrogen to freeze and incapacitate tumor cells. Unable to perform the basic metabolic functions, the cells die. If the tumor type is well selected, results comparable to convectional surgery or even better can be obtained. The most responsive types are the low grade cancerous and non-cancerous.
Bone Cancer Treatments should be complemented with other non-physical therapies such as patient counselling. This is because there are many issues associated with this disease that the patients have to deal with. Addressing the social and psychological aspects of the disease improves the response to the available treatment modes.
Surgery is used for localized tumors . The tumor is removed in its entirety together with margins of normal tissue. This ensures that there are no residual tumor cells left behind thus reduces the possibility of recurrence. For many years amputation has been the option for patients with tumors involving the bones of the limbs. This is gradually changing with new advances in surgery. Minimal surgery on the limbs followed by reconstruction is now possible.
Chemotherapy involves the use of drugs to kill tumor cells. The drugs are normally given in combination to enhance their effect. Chondrosarcoma is one of the tumors that respond poorly to this mode of treatment. Some surgeries may require a course of chemotherapy to shrink the tumor size first.
The other commonly used mode is radiotherapy. Cancer cells are irradiated with high energy X-rays killing most of them. It is also given before and after surgeries just like chemotherapy. It is also administered in cases where the tumors are inoperable or in patients that voluntarily decline to undergo surgery. It is given in small doses over several days to minimize its effects on normal cells.
Cryosurgery is among the newest techniques used in treatment. It utilizes liquid nitrogen to freeze and incapacitate tumor cells. Unable to perform the basic metabolic functions, the cells die. If the tumor type is well selected, results comparable to convectional surgery or even better can be obtained. The most responsive types are the low grade cancerous and non-cancerous.
Bone Cancer Treatments should be complemented with other non-physical therapies such as patient counselling. This is because there are many issues associated with this disease that the patients have to deal with. Addressing the social and psychological aspects of the disease improves the response to the available treatment modes.
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