Primary bone cancer is treated with one or more of the following: surgery,
radiation, and chemotherapy. The doctor must consider a number of
factors when creating a treatment plan for an individual, included the
patient’s age and general health, and the location, type, and size of the
tumor. While all treatments are composed of the same treatments, doses and
methods will vary with different people.
Secondary bone cancer is treated according to what type of cancer it has
originated from, prior treatment, and other factors. For many cases of
secondary bone cancer there may be no cure and treatment may be focused on pain
relief and quality of life issues. The physician will assist the patient in
choosing what is right for that individual.
Nearly all bone cancer treatment plans require surgery (an operation
to remove a tumor by cutting it out). The tumor is removed, along with several
centimeters of tissue surrounding it. Sometimes the surgery is followed up with
radiation and/or chemotherapy. At other times radiation and/or chemotherapy are
used before the operation to shrink the tumor.
Chemotherapy is a series of anti-cancer drugs that can be taken
through the mouth, through the vein, through subcutaneous (through the skin)
injection, and directly through the spine. Chemotherapy combined with surgery
is very often used to treat bone cancer.
Chemotherapy is taken as an inpatient or outpatient at the hospital, a
clinic, the doctor’s office, or even at home. It all depends on the drugs being
given and the individual’s reaction to the treatment.
Radiation therapy is the use of high-energy radiation to treat cancer.
Radiation destroys the cells’ reproductive abilities and the body gets rid of
the damaged cells. External radiation therapy involves a machine
directing beams of radiation into the cancerous area. Internal radiation
involves placing radioactive material inside the patient, near the tumor.
Radiation is administered in a clinic or hospital on a daily basis. A
standard treatment plan includes 5 days a week for 5 to 8 weeks.
In the past, amputation (removal of the cancerous limb) was usually
necessary. It is still required sometimes, but there are also alternatives for
many people. Often it is possible to remove the cancerous part of the bone and
replace it with bone from another part of the body. This is called a bone
graft.
Another option is to remove the affected part of the bone and replace it
with an endoprosthesis, a specially designed metal fitting. Whole joints
can also be replaced with artificial ones. Artificial limbs such as arm,
hands, feet, and legs can also be made to replace the natural ones if an
amputation is absolutely necessary. An artificial limb is called a prosthesis.