Bone Cancer Treatment In India | Bone Cancer Treatment

Brief About Bone Cancer and Its Treatment Cost in India

The Bone Cancer Treatment in India costs around 7200 USD which is around one-fourth of the cost offered in other developed countries including the USA, UK, etc. It can develop in any bone of the body and destroy tissues as well. This type of cancer is rare, but it mostly affects the pelvis and bones in the arms and legs. Like other cancers, it can spread to distant organs as well such as lungs, intestines, etc.

There are two main types of bone cancers – primary and secondary. In primary bone cancer, abnormal mutations develop in the bones, while secondary bone cancer arises somewhere else, spreads or metastasizes to the nearby or distant bones.

Bone cancers account for less than 1% of all other cancers. Secondary bone cancer is more common than primary bone cancer.

What Are The Symptoms of Bone Cancer?

Nagging and persistent pain in the affected areas is the most common symptoms of bone cancer. Over time, the pain becomes worse and remain constant:

Other symptoms include:

Unexplained weight loss
Weak bones that tend to get fractured
Swollen affected area
Lump formation in the affected area

Types of Bone Cancers, Diagnosis and Treatments

Bone cancer is broadly classified into two main categories: primary bone cancers and secondary bone cancers.

Primary Bone Cancers:

Bone tumors are either benign or malignant. Benign tumors do not grow towards other organs, while malignant tumors are aggressive and capable of growing and spreading.

Types	Examples
Benign Tumors	Osteoma, Osteoid Osteoma, Osteochondroma, Aneurysmal Bone Cyst, Fibrous Dysplasia of the Bone, Enchondroma
Malignant Tumors	Ewing’s Sarcoma, Osteosarcoma, Chordoma, Fibrosarcoma, Chondrosarcoma, and other sarcomas

The most common types of bone cancers are:

Osteosarcoma: It is the most common type of bone cancer which usually occurs in children and younger adults. It arises in the large bones of the legs and arms. In rare cases, the tumor can arise outside of bones (extraskeletal osteosarcomas).

Ewing’s Sarcoma: The tumor usually occurs in the pelvis, legs, or arms. It usually hits children and younger adults.

Chondrosarcoma: It is also one of the common types of bone cancer in which the cancerous cells are released in cartilage. It develops in the pelvis, legs, or arms and hits middle-aged and older adults.

Secondary Bone Cancers

These are the most common type of bone cancers that occur in adults only. It develops when cancer starts reaching bones from any other organs. There are higher chances that cancer can spread to the bones. Breast and prostate cancer have higher chances of developing bone cancer and this process is called bone metastases.

Bone Cancer Treatment Cost in India

Affordable Bone cancer treatment cost in India starts from INR 3,33,000 (4,000 USD). A large number of international patients travel from all over the world to receive surgeries and medical care that is comparable to that of nations like the USA and the UK and at incredibly low costs. This is the main reason that so many people want to come to India for medical treatment is because of this.

Bone Cancer Staging and Grading

Like every tumor, bone cancer has different stages as well as based on which doctors perform the appropriate treatment. The process ‘Grading’ involves examining the tumor cells under a microscope and concluding how they differ from the healthy bone tissues.

Grade 1 tumor cells have a similar resemblance to bone tissue, while grade 3 tumor cells are abnormal and quite aggressive.

Stage I: It is the treatment stage of bone cancer as the tumor measures around eight centimeters and has not exceeded its origin limits.

Stage II: In stage II, the tumor size may be the same as stage I, but with a higher grade and aggressive nature.

Stage III: The tumor has developed in at least two places in the same bone. However, it has not spread to the lungs or lymph nodes.

Stage IV: This is the advanced and last stage of bone cancer which is highly aggressive. The tumor cells might have spread to different locations including lungs, lymph nodes, or other organs.

These are the different stages of bone cancer that requires a different combination of treatments and dictate different outlook.

Departments and Specialities That Treat Bone Cancer

The Bone Cancer treatment involves specialists from different medical departments and they include:

Medical Oncology
Cancer Care Department
Orthopedic Oncology
Orthopedic Surgery
Pediatric Hematology/Oncology
Proton Beam Therapy Program
Radiation Oncology
Rehabilitation Program

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Procedure

Bone Cancer Diagnosis: Tests, Biopsies, And Other Procedures

In most cases, the cause of bone cancer is unknown. That’s why doctors perform tests and biopsies to know the type and stage of cancer when individual experiences any relevant symptoms.

Initially, your doctor may recommend a blood test to identify other possible causes. Afterward, your general physician may refer you to a bone specialist. The following diagnostic tests include:

Radionuclide Bone Scan: This can help in detecting whether cancer has spread to other bones. It is effective than X-rays and can even detect smaller areas of metastasized tumors.

CT Scans: This can help in detecting to which extent cancer has spread.

MRI Scans: This provides an outline of the tumor.

PET Scan: This procedure scans the whole body for detecting tumors.

X-rays: X-rays are usually helpful in detecting bone cancers. Even, a chest X-ray shows whether cancer has spread to the lungs.

Further, a biopsy detects staging and grading of the tumor along with assessing whether it is benign or malignant. Therefore, a doctor may recommend a biopsy.

Different Types of Biopsies Can Help to Detect Bone Cancer and They Are:

Fine Needle Aspiration: This procedure involves the extraction of a small number of fluids and cells from an area where the tumor is affected. Then Experts send the sample to a laboratory for examining under a microscope.

Excisional Biopsy: The surgeon needs to remove the whole tumor via a surgical procedure for further analysis.

Core Needle Biopsy: The doctor uses a larger needle to extract tissues for examination.
Incisional Biopsy: The doctor makes an incision through the skin to extract a small sample of tissue for analysis. This procedure is performed under general anesthesia.

What Are the Causes and Risk Factors Associated with Bone Cancer?

It is still unclear what are actual causes of bone cancer, but researchers have found some factors that are associated with a higher risk of developing bone cancer and they are:

Radiation Therapy for Cancer Treatment: Prolonged exposure to higher doses of radiation given as a treatment therapy for cancer can lead to an increased risk of developing bone cancer in the future.

Paget’s Disease of the Bone: This problem usually occurs in adults and may increase the risk of developing bone cancer later.
Genetic Syndromes: When genetic syndromes are inherited in families, it increases the risk of bone cancer.

Treating Bone Cancer: What are the different treatment types available?

After diagnosing and confirming bone cancer, the treatment highly depends on the following factors such as:

The type of bone cancer: primary or secondary and benign or malignant
Its location
The stage of cancer

The treatment options are decided by your medical specialist based on stage, location, overall health, and personal preferences. Different types of bone cancer respond to different treatments and your doctor can decide the best. Following are the treatment options available:

Surgery: It is the most common treatment for bone cancer which aims to remove the entire tumor along with some nearby bone tissues. It is necessary to remove the entire tumor otherwise there are chances of recurrence.
In some cases, the surgeon replaces either the damaged bone with another bone from another area of the body or material made of metal and hard plastic.

Chemotherapy: This procedure involves the use of anti-cancer drugs to kill cancerous cells. This treatment does not work efficiently for some forms of bone cancers. For instance, chemotherapy works well for osteosarcoma and Ewing sarcoma but it is ineffective for chondrosarcoma.

Radiation Therapy: In this procedure, the radiology team targets cancer cells with high-powered X-rays. Sometimes, doctors prefer chemotherapy along with surgery to remove the tumor.
It is an effective treatment for Ewing Sarcoma and for other forms of cancer as well when combined with another treatment as well.

Cryosurgery: This is an alternate treatment for surgery to remove tumors from bone tissue. In this procedure, a surgeon freezes target and destroys cancer cells with liquid nitrogen.

Success Rate and Life Expectancy Following Bone Cancer Treatment

The success rate mainly depends on to what extent cancer has spread to other parts of the body. In the case of calculating the five-year survival rate, it is a measurement of people based on the stage when the cancer is diagnosed.

For instance, if chondrosarcoma has not spread, then the five-year survival rate after diagnosis is 91%. In case, cancer has spread to the lungs, the five-year survival rate is around 33%.

Early detection of bone cancer and timely treatment are the keys to improving the survival rate.

Factors affecting the Bone Cancer Treatment Cost in India

There are various factors involved that may affect the total treatment cost in India and they are:

Type of hospital selected
Type of room chosen
Surgeons’ fees
Type of treatments opted – surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, or a combination of all these three.
Medications
Follow-up procedures
Tests and diagnostic procedures

If you’re traveling from another city or country, the cost of the stay in India is also included.

Conclusion

Bone cancer is a rare disease and it can bring fear, frustration, and instability when diagnosed. It is completely curable if detected at an early stage. Start discussing with your medical expert about the treatment options and follows up with immediate precautions as guided by them. Join support groups and start discussions with other similar patients that will give you mental strength, emotional stability, and spiritual health.

Role of Medsurge in Making Your Medical Journey Fruitful in India!

Medsurge India provides options of specialized doctors and hospitals for Bone Cancer Treatment in India. Currently, there are 38 JCI (Joint Commission International) accredited hospitals in India. It is a hard decision for a medical tourist to decide which hospital is best for him considering all factors including accommodation, food, etc.

This is where Medsurge India enters the picture and assists in selecting the right hospital, doctor for bone cancer treatment in India. Medsurge India and the team offer cost-friendly and transparent healthcare services. The services include:

Visa assistance
Airport pick up and drop facilities
Arranging appointments with a team of highly experienced medical personnel
Providing budget-friendly treatment options
Accommodation services for the patient and the attendant
Language translation services, payment processes, and other additional services

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The Most Important Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can Bone Cancer Be Cured Completely?

In most cases, bone cancer is easily curable if it hasn’t spread. Around 6 in every 10 people diagnosed with bone cancer live for at least five years from the time of their diagnosis. Most often, it may be cured completely.

Q: What Is the Survival Rate of Bone Cancer?

The survival rate of bone cancer varies according to which extent it has spread. If it is localized, the survival rate is around 91%. If it has spread to nearby tissues or organs, the survival rate is approximately 75%. If it has affected distant organs, the survival rate is quite less which is 22%.

Q: Where Does Bone Cancer Usually Start?

It can develop in any bone in the body, however, it mostly affects the pelvis or long bones in the arms or legs.

Q: How Long Does It Take to Recover from Bone Cancer Surgery?

In the case of a tumor in the leg bone, people start walking again three to six months after a leg amputation, while it takes around a year for complete recovery after limb-salvage surgery.

Q: How Long Is Chemo for Bone Cancer?

The chemo sessions are done for about 10 weeks before undergoing surgery to treat osteosarcomas. This helps make surgery easier.

Q: What Bone Cancer Patients Should Eat?

The diet should be rich in protein such as milk products, eggs, legumes, meat, fish, beans, and poultry.

Q: Does Bone Cancer Show Up on X-Rays?

X-rays can tell any damage to the bones due to cancer or if there is any new bone growing.

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Bone Cancer Treatment Cost In India