Bone Cancer
 |
Bone cancer develops rather slowly as opposed to some of the virulent types of cancer. The first symptom most people notice first is pain or a small lump on the bone that can be felt through the skin. The lump is generally tender to the touch. Sometimes, though, the first symptom is broken bone from a minor accident. Even though these symptoms might be benign, it is always best to have them checked out by a doctor. It is always better to be safe than sorry.
When you do visit the doctor, he will take a complete family history and does a complete physical to see the patient’s general state of health. After this, the doctor will order blood work and x rays. The x rays will show the size, location, and shape of the tumor, Cancerous tumors are usually irregular edges and have odd shapes. Therefore, the doctor will know pretty quickly if bone cancer is suspected.
Next the doctor will order a bone scan to see if the tumor has spread. Bone scans will give the doctor an even better idea of what he is dealing with. The technician will inject you with a little radioactive material that will accumulate in the bones. Then a scanner is used to detect the radioactive material.
A CAT scan may also be ordered. A computer creates very detailed pictures of the bones so that the doctor will have more information to make the right diagnosis. Then the doctor will have to do a biopsy of the suspected cancerous tumor. The doctor takes out a small piece of tissue which will be read by a pathologist in a hospital. He will be able to tell the type of cancer and the speed it will probably grow.
If the diagnosis is as expected and it is cancer, then the doctor has to figure out exactly where the cancer is and whether it has migrated from the original site. Next the doctor will stage the cancer. The stage shows how much the cancer may have spread and how much tissue is affected. Staging is very important to deciding on treatment.
Treatments of bone cancer vary. Treatment ranges from surgery to radiation to chemotherapy. At this point the patient will be referred to a oncologist or cancer doctor. Surgery usually comes first when the surgeon will excise the tumor and surrounding tissue. Some part of the bone may be removed also. Some children with bone cancer in their leg have had the bone taken out and replaced with a metal rod that will grow with the child. Amazingly enough this process works by a remote device that lengthens the rod to match the child’s other leg.
Chemotherapy is used in conjunction with surgery when necessary. Usually there are three drugs used to kill the cancer cells remaining. This is usually outpatient.
Radiation therapy is used to stop the cancer cells from growing. In some cases these high energy rays are used instead of surgery to kill the cells.
Bone cancer can be treated if caught early. Like most cancers there are symptoms to watch for. If you experience any of these symptoms, seek help immediately.
Copyright 2007 Janice D. Sterling - All Rights Reserved
| Health Tips - Breast Cancer Breast cancer is more common among older women. The risk for getting breast cancer increases with age. More than three-quarters of women who get breast cancer are over the age of fifty. White women are more likely to get breast cancer ... | ||
Barry Manilow Brings Valentine's and Music to New York With . - MarketWatch
| ||
Negative messages keep blacks from cancer tests (Reuters via Yahoo! News) Cancer news stories and public service announcements that call attention to the fact that African Americans are often diagnosed with cancer at later stages and have lower survival rates than whites may discourage African Americans from getting screened for cancer, new research shows... | ||
Postdoctoral Scientists in Cell Cycle Research - Nature.com (subscription)
| ||
Cost Of Treating Colorectal Cancer Vary The cost of treating colorectal cancer varies widely, with newer, life-extending therapies sometimes costing tens of thousands of dollars more than older agents, according to a study led by a team of researchers in the Duke ... | ||
Migraines prevent breast cancer!!!!!!! The authors of this study invoked migraine as a negative risk factor for breast cancer. The English meaning of "risk" is a bit lost here---what they are saying is that women who have migraines are less likely to develop breast cancer ... | ||
Metro Health Cancer center hosts open house (WZZM 13 Grand Rapids) Metro Health Cancer center hosts open house.. | ||
Big Step Forward For Cancer Research: Scientists Map Cancer . - eFluxMedia
| ||
Migraine's silver lining -- drop in breast cancer risk: study (AFP via Yahoo! News) Migraine sufferers who likely have no kind words about the condition may take comfort in news that women who get the extra-strength headaches have a 30-percent lower breast cancer risk, according to a new US study... | ||
Family: Author Michael Crichton dies of cancer at age 66 (The Pantagraph) NEW YORK -- Michael Crichton, the million-selling author who made scientific research terrifying and irresistible in such thrillers as "Jurassic Park," "Timeline" and "The Andromeda Strain," has died of cancer, his family said... | ||
United States Embassy Joins Forces With Susan G. Komen for the . - MarketWatch
| ||
Loyola helps cancer patients navigate services (Proviso Herald) With a low-paying job and a one-year-old daughter at home, 22-year-old Mikiea Price's breast cancer diagnosis was the equivalent of an eviction notice... | ||
Technorati Tags: Cancer Research, Bone Cancer
 |
-
- Cancer Diagnosis
- American Cancer Society
- American Cancer Society Relay For Life
- Bone Cancer
- Brain Cancer Symptoms
- Breast Cancer
- Breast Cancer Ribbon
- Breast Cancer Walk
- Cancer Prevention
- Cancer Screening
- Chemotherapy And Hair Loss
- Gifts For A Friend With Cancer
- Helping A Friend With Cancer
- Hospice Care For Cancer victims
- Liver Cancer Symptoms
- Mesothelioma
- Ovarian Cancer Symptoms
- Signs Of Colon Cancer
- Skin Cancer Symptoms
- Throat Cancer
- Social Bookmark This
- Privacy Policy
- Sitemap