Bone tumors start in the bones, such as in the spine, leg bones, ribs or arm bones. Benign bone tumors are much more common than malignant bone tumors. Some common benign tumors are Nonossifying fibromas, osteochondromas and Unicameral bone cysts. Common Malignant tumors are Ewing Sarcoma and Osteosarcoma. Bone tumors are found most often in children and young adults.
Soft tissue sarcoma starts in connective tissue, which includes the Blood vessels, fat cells, Lymph nodes, Muscles, nerves and tendons. Soft tissue sarcoma can occur anywhere in the body, but most commonly they occur in the arms and legs, and in the abdomen. There are many subtypes of soft tissue sarcoma and they can affect children and adults.
Symptoms of tumors in the bones and soft tissues can be hard to identify as it can overlap with other conditions. As these tumors can occur anywhere in the body the symptoms can vary, and depend on the type of tumor, its location and how much it has grown or spread. Some general guidelines are listed below.
Bone cancer symptoms may include pain in the affected bone, swelling near the affected bone, broken bones and fatigue.
Soft tissue sarcoma may not have early symptoms, but may later be a lump or swelling and may cause pain if it presses on a nerve or muscle.
During your first visit, Dr. Deepak G Shivarathre will talk to you about your symptoms and medical history. Next he will do a through physical examination as per protocols. Depending on the case, he may prescribe the below tests to determine the source of your tumor / pain.
In this surgery, Dr. Deepak will surgically remove the tumor along with affected bones and tissues. In order to replace the bone that was removed, Dr. Deepak may use a bone transplant (bone graft) or a metal implant which enables to salvage the affected limb / body part. These joints can be made longer to match the child's growth.
When limb sparing surgery is not possible due to the location, size and spread of the tumor, amputation is considered. This will control the disease and patients can return to active life. After amputation the patient can be fitted with a artificial limb to continue leading a normal lifestyle.
