Dr. Mahmoud Jafar Biglo, orthopedic specialist, pointing out that bone cancer is common in the second and third decades of life and is more common in men, and it is also more common in the lower limbs, tells JamJam: Due to tumor growth, bone is replaced by tissue that causes It weakens the bone and causes the bone to break. Of course, abnormal bone growth can be benign or malignant.
This bone and joint surgeon adds about the cause of bone cancer: different causes are involved in its occurrence, which can include exposure to radiation and chemicals or genetic factors and chronic infections. Although definitely, the role of genetic factors has also been proven in the occurrence of some bone tumors.
Bone tumors are usually benign
It is interesting to know that most bone tumors are non-cancerous, and these tumors are called benign, which are usually not fatal.
According to this orthopedic surgeon, the most common benign bone tumors include bone cysts, which are usually seen in the leg and often in children and teenagers.
He emphasizes: Considering that the main cause of bone cancer is unknown, it seems that it cannot be prevented, but avoiding radiation (such as radiotherapy) and some special chemicals that are known to be effective in causing bone tumors (absence of Contact with radioactive and nuclear compounds) prevents bone cancer.
Take bone pain and swelling seriously
As we said, the most common symptom of bone cancer is pain, but depending on the location and size of the tumor, a bone tumor may remain asymptomatic for a long time.
However, Dr. Bigelow emphasizes: if the patient goes to the doctor with symptoms such as palpation of the lump or sudden bone pain, there is a possibility of early diagnosis. Note that local swelling is also one of the symptoms of bone cancer. This swelling may be felt as a local mass by the patient.
Emphasizing that bone cancer may weaken the bone and cause it to break, this bone surgeon said: When a bone affected by cancer breaks, the patient usually states that he has had a mild pain in the limb for a long time, which suddenly increases in intensity. . Also, bone cancer can cause other symptoms such as extreme fatigue and weakness or sudden weight loss. When cancer cells invade the internal organs of the body, symptoms related to those organs may appear. For example, when bone cancer spreads to the lungs, the patient may have breathing problems.
The need to have a healthy and complete diet
Due to the weakness of the body and immune system of bone cancer patients who are undergoing treatment, experts emphasize on having a healthy and complete diet.
According to Dr. Bigelow, due to the malignant disease that these patients have and during heavy periods of chemotherapy, which causes a noticeable decrease in appetite and nausea and vomiting, these patients lose a lot of weight and energy. Also, performing heavy surgeries along with the use of strong and long-term antibiotics further fuel this nutritional problem. As a result, these patients and especially their families are very worried about excessive thinness and are trying to solve it.
For this reason, he recommends: patients should be encouraged to eat healthy and natural foods that are easily digestible. Also, this category of patients should be prohibited from eating heavy and fatty foods or all kinds of pickles and spices. In addition, it is better to reduce the amount of each food in each meal, but increase the number of meals. It is also recommended to drink any liquids, including water, tea, buttermilk, and soft drinks.
Needless to say, if this type of cancer is diagnosed early and on time, it will be possible to cure it definitively.
Bone cancer treatment methods
The following methods are used in the treatment of malignant bone tumors:
Radiotherapy: Irradiating gamma rays to cancerous tissue is one of the effective ways to kill cancer cells. Radiotherapy cannot completely destroy cancer cells, but only reduce their number. However, this help is enough to reduce the patient’s bone pain. The patient’s pain usually decreases one or two weeks after radiotherapy, but the maximum pain reduction is after several months.
Chemotherapy: In this method, by injecting chemical drugs, the activity of cancer cells slows down and stops.
Surgery: during which the surgeon uses the curettage method. That is, without removing any part of the bone, a cavity is created and the tumor is separated from the bone. Once the tumor is removed, the doctor drains the remaining tumor using cryotherapy and bone cement to ensure the tumor is completely drained.
