Osteosarcoma refers to a malignant tumor that occurs in the bones, and can occur in any part of the body’s bones, such as arms, legs, and pelvis, and it is said to occur most often in the bones around the knee. Osteosarcoma is known to occur most often during the growth phase, when bone growth occurs rapidly. It is said that it occurs in childhood or adolescence at a rate of about 60%, and about 10% occurs in the 20s, and it is known that the incidence in men is about twice as high as in women.
The main cause of osteosarcoma is still unknown. It is known that genetic factors such as family history and radiation therapy in the past have a significant influence on the incidence of certain diseases. In particular, it is said to have a significant influence on the development of retinoblastoma, a malignant tumor formed in the retina of the eye. Now, let’s check in more detail about the main symptoms of osteosarcoma, as well as various information on treatment and management.
Osteosarcoma Main Symptoms
The main symptom of osteosarcoma symptoms is pain in the legs and arms, and at the same time, swelling of the tissue surrounding the tumor is accompanied. This pain becomes more severe after an injury or after intense and strenuous exercise. Osteosarcoma symptoms in the early stages are easy to feel as pain that occurs when you receive a light bruise. However, these pains become more intense as time goes by, and the duration of the pain becomes longer.
Also, if it has progressed to a malignant form, pain may occur even when you are resting or sleeping at night. In addition, the tissue surrounding the tumor becomes weak against impact, and if you are not careful, you may experience sudden, severe pain, and in severe cases, the bone may be broken even with a small impact. These osteosarcomas are often thought to be traumatic pain and growth pains during the growth phase, so the diagnosis is delayed and the appropriate treatment time is delayed. If the pain thought to be caused by a simple bruise continues for several weeks and the swelling does not go away, it is possible to suspect the occurrence of osteosarcoma.
Osteosarcoma Treatment and Management
1. Accurate diagnosis through multiple tests
To diagnose osteosarcoma, an X-ray examination is performed to confirm the state of destruction of the bone and to accurately identify the lesion that forms the bone. CT, MRI, bone scan, and biopsy may be performed to check for metastasis. If osteosarcoma is diagnosed through multiple tests, treatment such as surgery and chemotherapy is performed. When diagnosed with osteosarcoma, metastasis is found in about 20% of patients, and in most cases, it is known that metastases to the lungs are common. The presence or absence of metastasis to other parts acts as a factor that has the greatest influence on the prognosis of osteosarcoma. In the absence of metastasis, the 5-year survival rate is about 60-70%, and in the case of metastasis, the 5-year survival rate is about 20-30%. It is known to be moderate.
2. Treatment according to the diagnosis result
When diagnosed as osteosarcoma, in the case of osteosarcoma without metastasis, treatment is carried out in the order of chemotherapy before surgery, surgery to remove the tumor, and drug treatment after surgery. Treatment with chemotherapy before surgery takes about 2 months and drug treatment after surgery for about 1 year. Additional can be implemented. After the treatment is completed through these various procedures, regular check-ups are conducted for about two years to track and observe whether the tumor has metastasized to other parts of the body.
3. Steady management after treatment
Because the cause of osteosarcoma is not clearly known, it is said that there is no exact prevention method or diet, and it is important to prevent cancer recurrence and treatment side effects through continuous management and regular check-ups after treatment. Most anticancer drugs used in the treatment of osteosarcoma cause a decrease in bone marrow function, so it is important to boil all food before intake. In addition, it is recommended to limit the intake of fermented foods such as kimchi and yogurt, and when ingesting dairy products, sterilized dairy products should be consumed.
In addition, as osteosarcoma is known to cause many complications due to bacterial infection during the treatment process, it is recommended to minimize exposure to these infections and to manage personal hygiene thoroughly. And since anticancer drug treatment can damage the oral mucosa and anal mucosa, it is recommended to continuously use prescribed gargles and sitz baths to prevent infection to these damaged areas.
