

Musculoskeletal Cancer
What is musculoskeletal cancer?
The specialisation of orthopaedic surgery and medical oncology, known as "musculoskeletal oncology", is dedicated to detecting and managing cancers that affect the soft tissues, including the muscles, tendons, and ligaments, as well as the bones. This includes tumours that start in the bones, like osteosarcoma and chondrosarcoma, and tumours that spread from other body parts to the bones, like prostate and breast cancer. These cancers can either be primary, meaning they begin in the bone, or secondary, meaning they have spread from another part of the body to the bone. In addition to efficiently treating cancer, musculoskeletal oncology seeks to give patients the best possible outcome, including maintaining function and quality of life. This frequently calls for complicated surgical techniques like limb-sparing surgery, which can improve patient outcomes.
What causes musculoskeletal cancer?
The exact cause of musculoskeletal cancer is unknown, but certain factors may increase the risk of developing the disease. Some of these factors include:
Age
Age raises the likelihood of getting musculoskeletal cancer.Inherited genetic mutations
Musculoskeletal cancer risk is elevated by a few inherited genetic variants, such as those linked to Li-Fraumeni syndrome and retinoblastoma.Other medical conditions
People with particular medical problems, like bone-related Paget's disease, are more likely to develop musculoskeletal cancer.Previous cancer treatment
The chance of acquiring musculoskeletal cancer increases in those who have previously undergone chemotherapy or radiation treatment for another form of cancer.Radiation exposure
High radiation exposure can raise the chance of acquiring musculoskeletal cancer through occupational or medicinal exposure.
It is crucial to understand that musculoskeletal cancer is not always a result of having one or more of these risk factors. Even with these risk factors, the disease rarely progresses in many people.
Types of musculoskeletal cancers
There are several types of musculoskeletal cancers, and these include
Chondrosarcoma
The tissue that protects the ends of bones in joints and cushions them, cartilage, is impacted by this type of cancer.Ewing's sarcoma
This cancer can develop in bones or the tissue around bones and is frequently detected in children and adolescents.Giant cell tumour of bone
The legs are the most typical site for this type of malignancy.Malignant fibrous histiocytoma
Undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma is another name for this type of cancer, which can attack both bones and the soft tissues surrounding them, such as muscles and tendons.Osteosarcoma - The longest bones, such as the thigh bone or upper arm bone, are frequently affected by this form of primary bone cancer.
Synovial sarcoma
This type of cancer affects the bursae, synovial tissue, and the lining of joints.
Musculoskeletal cancer symptoms
The symptoms of musculoskeletal cancer can vary depending on the type and location of cancer, but common signs include the following:
Fatigue A typical sign of many malignancies, including musculoskeletal cancer, is fatigue.
Fracture Musculoskeletal cancer may make a bone more prone to fracturing, even from minor impact.
Limb or joint stiffness When a limb or joint is affected by musculoskeletal cancer, the patient’s joint will become stiff.
Pain The most typical sign of musculoskeletal cancer is pain in the affected area. The discomfort may be ongoing or intermittent and worsens at night or with physical exertion.
Swelling Another sign of musculoskeletal cancer may be swelling in the affected area.
Weakness It may be challenging for patients with musculoskeletal cancer to move or bear weight on the affected limb due to weakness in the affected area.
It is crucial to remember that these symptoms are not exclusive to musculoskeletal cancer and that other illnesses can also bring them on. For an accurate diagnosis, Dr Motilall should be consulted.
Musculoskeletal cancer treatment
Standard treatment options for musculoskeletal cancer include:
Chemotherapy Drugs are used in chemotherapy to kill cancer This procedure may be done with radiation therapy.
Cryosurgery Cancer cells are frozen and killed during cryosurgery. Some musculoskeletal cancer types may be treated using this method, especially if they have not migrated to other body areas.
Radiation therapy High-energy radiation beams are used in radiation treatment to eliminate cancer For some musculoskeletal malignancies, this therapy may be used either before or after surgery or as a stand-alone therapy.
Surgery Surgery is frequently the first line of treatment for musculoskeletal cancer. Surgery seeks to remove the malignant tissue to preserve as much healthy tissue as possible.
Targeted therapy Drugs that specifically target specific proteins or genetic alterations that fuel the proliferation of cancer cells are used in targeted therapy. For some musculoskeletal tumours, this treatment may be coupled with other therapies.