A bone tumor is an abnormal growth of cells that produce a tumor in the bones. or joints of the human body. They can spread to other areas or structures, causing metastasis.

Normally, they manifest themselves as lumps or inflammations that are painless for the patient. In cases of large tumors, they can cause nerve compression that causes pain in the patient. In many cases, bone tumors weaken the bone, increasing the risk of bone fractures.

Benign tumors should be monitored periodically by a specialist; however, if they present non-aggressive local growth, they will not pose a risk to the patient.

Main symptoms of bone cancer

The main symptoms that can occur in the appearance of bone cancer They are: pain or swelling in the affected bone, even lumps appearing in the area.

Another common symptom is bone weakness, even fractures in those that previously had some ailment.
All of these symptoms are often accompanied by fatigue and unjustified weight loss in the patient.

Bone cancer most commonly occurs in the long bones of the body, such as those in the legs or arms.

Bone cancer treatment should be multidisciplinary, meaning it should be carried out by different cancer specialists, so that all possible means are available to find the most appropriate treatment for the patient.

The most common therapy for bone cancer consists of surgery, whose main objective is the resection of the tumor and surrounding tissues, which sometimes require amputation and reconstruction using grafts or prostheses.

In the most severe cases, the patient will have to undergo oncological treatment. Once the surgery to remove the bone tumor has been performed, treatments based on radiotherapy or chemotherapy will be applied.

The radiotherapy for bone cancer: is the destruction of cancer cells using high-energy rays, from the outside in. It is usually performed in cases where the cancer could not be removed by surgery.

The chemotherapy treatment for the destruction of bone tumors It consists of a medication that is taken by mouth or injection until it reaches the cancer cells and destroys them completely.

In those patients with bone metastasis, it will be necessary to treat the affected organs through the therapies mentioned above, which can improve the patient's life.

Intervention for bone tumors is recommended in those cases in which the tumor is malignant, causes pain in the patient or there is a risk of metastasis.

Surgery is usually not necessary for benign tumors; it is only necessary in cases where there is a risk of progression to malignancy or to prevent bone weakening and fractures.

Recovery after bone tumor surgery

Recovery after surgery for a bone tumor depends on the type of tumor. In the case of benign tumors, the patient is usually discharged a few hours after surgery, receiving pain relief to prevent possible pain.

In case of malignant tumors, the patient's hospitalization period will be longer. It should be assessed whether complementary oncological treatment is necessary.

In surgeries that involve the removal of a bone tumor, a graft may be used to fill in the gaps in broken bones that are extremely difficult to repair or replace, as they can cause serious problems for the patient.

Habitually, bone tissue is removed from another part of the patient's body, but in certain cases, donor bone (allograft) or artificial bone may be used.

Recovery after a bone graft procedure does not usually present complications and recovery time varies depending on the bone treated. It is recommended to avoid tobacco, which can affect bone healing.

There are different types of bone tumors:

Malignant bone tumors

Osteosarcoma: This is a type of bone cancer that originates in bone cells. It usually occurs in long bones, such as the legs and arms (although they are not as common). This cancer is very common in adults and young people.
The most common symptoms of osteosarcoma are bone fracture and pain in the affected area. In cases where osteosarcoma is present in the leg, such as the knee, the patient may experience a slight limp.

Ewing sarcoma: It is a cancerous tumor that usually appears in the bones of the body, although it can also occur around bones.
The most common symptoms that usually accompany this Ewing Sarcoma are: fever for no reason, pain and swelling in the affected area.

ChondrosarcomaThis type of bone tumor begins in the bones and spreads to surrounding soft tissues. For a complete diagnosis, a sample is removed and analyzed. Symptoms of this condition include tenderness in the affected area, the development of a lump, and severe bone pain at night.

Benign bone tumors

Osteochondroma or bone exostosis: It is a benign growth of bone tissue on existing bone. The most common symptoms are swelling, weakness in the area, and pain in the affected bones.

Enchondroma: It is a benign cartilage tumor located in the small bones of the hands and feet. It is common in older people and is generally asymptomatic. However, it can cause significant pain if it grows too large. In cases where symptoms do occur, the most common are: enlargement of the affected area.

Non-ossifying fibroids: It is a benign fibrous tumor that develops in a growing bone. A portion of the bone doesn't harden as it normally would and instead becomes filled with fibrous tissue instead of tissue. Most cases of nonossifying fibroma occur during childhood.
This pathology rarely causes symptoms; it is almost always detected through another illness.