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Causes And Treatment Of Bone Cancer

     Bones are an indispensable part of human body architecture. Apart from providing the skeletal structure of the body, bones are useful in protecting delicate organs that are placed inside the body, providing support for muscles to attach to, help in controlling the concentrations of different proteins, vitamins and minerals and participating in the formation of new blood cells. The central region of the bones is filled with a fluid known as bone marrow, which is a vast reservoir of pluripotent stem cells. Any malignancy in the bone is referred to as bone cancer. Bone cancer might arise as a result of abnormal proliferation of native bone cells or it might occur due to metastasis of cancerous cells spreading from elsewhere in the body to the bones.

     Diagnosis of bone cancer involves a series of diagnostic tests. These include X-rays, bone scan, CT scan, MRI scan or an angiogram. Depending on the results of these tests, a physician can determine the location, size and shape of a bone tumor. Apart from these tests, biopsy is conducted in order to ascertain the results obtained in the diagnostic tests. Blood tests involve detecting the levels of alkaline phosphotase in the serum. Alkaline phosphotase is an enzyme whose levels increase abnormally due to growth of bone cells. However, this test is indicative of bone cancer since the enzyme levels are high even in normal children and adolescents.

      There are two ways in which bone cancer can be treated. Systemic treatment is required when the cancer has spread throughout the body. Systemic treatment options include chemotherapy, immunotherapy and hormone therapy. Local treatment is required when the cancer cells are benign and located in a particular area. Local treatment involves surgery and radiation therapy. Type of treatment to be given to patient is determined based on the type of bone cancer, its location and its invasiveness.

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