Bone Cancer

Bone cancer is a type of tumor that originates in the bone. Other types of cancer, such as non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma and multiple types of Myeloma may affect the bones by spreading from other parts of the body.

What are the types of bone cancer?

There are different types of bone tumors. The most common types of primary bone cancers are:

• Osteosarcoma is the main type of bone cancer. It begins in the bone cells and most often is seen in children and adolescents.
• Chondrosarcoma is a cancer of cartilage cells. More than 40% of bone cancer that is seen in adults is Chondrosarcoma. Many Chondrosarcoma tumors are benign (not cancer). Bone tumors can develop anywhere in the body especially the pelvis, leg or arm.
• Ewing's sarcoma is the second most prevalent type of bone cancer in children and adolescents, and the third most often type of bone cancer found in adults. It accounts for about 8% of bone cancers in adults. Ewing's Sarcoma can start in bones, tissues or organs, especially the pelvis, chest wall, legs or arms.

What are the symptoms of bone cancer?

• Bone pain
• Swelling and tenderness near the affected area
• Weakened bones, leading to fracture
• Fatigue
• Unintended weight loss

How is bone cancer diagnosed?

Imaging tests, physical exams and blood tests might suggest that a person has bone cancer but in most cases doctors must confirm these results with a biopsy.

A biopsy is used to confirm the presence of cancer cells. It is very important for the biopsy procedure to be done by a surgeon with experience in diagnosing and treating bone tumors. There are two types of bone biopsy:

• Needle biopsy: A long, hollow needle is inserted through the skin to the area of the bone. The needle removes a cylindrical sample of the bone to examine with a microscope.
• Open or surgical biopsy: The surgeon removes a tiny piece of bone through an incision (a cut made by surgeon) to examine under a microscope.

What are the treatment options for bone cancer?

Generally more than one type of treatment is suggested to treat bone cancer. Your treatment plan will depend on the type of bone cancer and its stage.

Based on your treatment options, you might have different types of doctors on your treatment team. These doctors may include an orthopedic surgeon, a radiation oncologist and a medical oncologist.

The main approaches for treatment of bone cancer are:

Surgery for bone cancer

Radiation therapy for bone cancer

Chemotherapy for bone cancer

Targeted therapy for bone cancer

The goal of surgery is to remove the tumor and a margin of healthy bone or tissue around the tumor to make sure all of the cancer cells are gone. Afterwards, according to the stage of the cancer, chemotherapy and radiation therapy may also be required.

Why choose Turkey for bone cancer treatment?

Medical centers in Turkey provide bone cancer treatments in line with the strict international protocols. Patients from 80 countries choose Turkey for cancer treatment.

Turkish hospitals bring together a team of experts that include specialists from many areas to give you a customized care. The doctors in Turkey regularly improve their skills in leading medical facilities of Europe and America. They use specialized therapies and technologies to give you the most advanced cancer treatment with the least impact on your body.