Osteosarcoma: A common type of Bone Cancer
This type of cancer begins in the bone cells, but sometimes the cancer cell starts proliferating in the soft tissue cells next to the bone. Osteosarcoma is usually present along with the long bones however it can develop in any bone.
Osteosarcoma affects at any age but teenagers and young adults are at higher risk of developing osteosarcoma. This type of bone cancer develops from osteoblast, the bone growing cells; thus teenagers are at higher risk, especially boys who are having a growth spurt.
Osteosarcoma Symptoms
- Pain in joints.
- Swelling near the joints.
- Bones become quite brittle and susceptible to get fractured.
- Bone injury
- Limping if cancer affects the leg bones.
- A mass is felt through the skin.
- Difficulty in lifting heavy weight if cancer affects the arm bones.
- Restricted movement of the affected joint.
- Loss of weight which cannot be explained.
- Loss of appetite.
- Fatigue
Osteosarcoma Causes
The exact cause is not known, but a mutation in the genes especially the retinoblastoma gene mutation is usually associated as the cause for developing osteosarcoma.
Osteosarcoma Risk factors
- Adolescence boys are at a higher risk of developing osteosarcoma than girls.
- African people are at higher risk
- Teenagers and young adults are at higher risk
- People with a history of cancer.
- Exposure to radiation
- Young children who have increased growth spurt.
- Tall people are at higher risk.
- People having certain bone diseases such as Paget’s disease and hereditary multiple osteochondromas are at higher risk.
- People with a family history of osteosarcoma are at higher risk.
Complications after surgery
- Infections and bleeding
- The bone grafts or rods can loosen over a period of time
- Loss of hair
- Mouth sores
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Increased susceptibility to contracting infections
- Extreme fatigue after chemotherapy
- Anxiety or depression
- Difficulty in learning
- Relapse of cancer
- Metastasis of cancer to other body parts
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Care is taken to manage symptoms
Osteosarcoma is a very painful condition and mostly affects children. Seeing your child in pain is really very painful. Here are a few steps to manage symptoms:
- Consult a dietician to help you prepare a balanced diet chart for your child.
- Encourage the child to do exercise regularly. It helps to lessen tiredness and good for overall health also.
- Make sure that the child gets adequate rest.
- Keep encouraging the child- mentally and emotionally.
- Make sure that the child takes medicines regularly.
When to see a doctor?
You should see a doctor if:
- You find new symptoms.
- If old symptoms are getting worse or affecting your ability to do daily activities.
- If you experience any ill effects/s from the medicines.