Childhood osteosarcoma is a malignant form of bone cancer and the 6th most common form of cancer among children under 15. The disease affects more than 500 adults and 400 children each year, with two thirds the rate of survival.
Causes of Osteosarcoma
Unfortunately, the causes of osteosarcoma are not known. Theories exist on the environment, such as triggers of fluoride in drinking water or exposure to radium.
Symptoms associated with Osteosarcoma
Typically, the most common side effects associated with osteosarcoma is pain, often from the location of the tumor. Larger tumors, especially on the knees, can appear as a swelling. In addition, because the bone is usually assigned the lowest it more susceptible to rupture.
More than 50 of all cases of childhood osteosarcoma is around the knee area.
Risk Factors
Age
The risk of developing osteosarcoma peaks during the period of growth in adolescents. Some researchers think it May be a correlation between the rapid development of bone growth and a child's risk of developing cancer.
Gender of patients
Osteosarcoma usually occurs in men and is seen twice as often than in younger women.
Exposure to radiation
If a patient has undergone radiation treatment for cancer or other conditions, they have a higher risk of contracting the disease.
Other Bone Diseases
Patients who have suffered from other bone diseases such as Paget's disease of bone, have an increased risk of being diagnosed with osteosarcoma. In general, however, it occurs in adults and children is rare.
Genetics
Childhood osteosarcoma is often more prevalent among children with cancer in certain rare hereditary syndromes that are as retinoblastoma or Li Fraumeni syndrome.
Types of Osteosarcoma
There are three subtypes of osteosarcoma that can be recognized by how they appear on X-rays and a microscope. Some of these subtypes have a better prognosis than others.
The three subtypes of osteosarcoma are high-quality, intermediate and low grade. High quality is a classic disease characterized by the formation of small cells. Intermediate grade periosteal is the meaning of the membrane around the bone is affected. Low grade is also periosteal but low grade intrasseous.
How is Osteosarcoma
Osteosarcoma is sometimes treated with surgery during which the afflicted limb or part of the amputated limb is afflicted. Usually, the patient or patient's parents choose to use the same surgeon for both the biopsy, surgery and therapy.
Patients or parents of patients should consult their physician about the best method and best way to remove the cancer while saving the most from the use of the arm or leg affected as possible.
Despite the prevalence of surgery, most cases of osteosarcoma in children treated with chemotherapy in combination with surgery. There are a variety of drugs used in chemotherapy osteosarcoma programs, with each dose determined by the patient and disease.
A child suffering from this scourge and the parents of this child are very difficult decisions to make when presenting the options of chemotherapy and surgery. Those who face the prospect of an amputation should certainly seek a second opinion before going forward.
