Cancer

Cancer is a term used for diseases in which abnormal cells divide without control and are able to invade other tissues. Cancer cells can spread to other parts of the body through the blood and lymph systems.
Cancer is not just one disease but many diseases. There are more than 100 different types of cancer. Most cancers are named for the organ or type of cell in which they start - for example, cancer that begins in the colon is called colon cancer; cancer that begins in basal cells of the skin is called basal cell carcinoma.
Cancer types can be grouped into broader categories. The main categories of cancer include:
Carcinoma - cancer that begins in the skin or in tissues that line or cover internal organs.
Sarcoma - cancer that begins in bone, cartilage, fat, muscle, blood vessels, or other connective or supportive tissue.
Leukemia - cancer that starts in blood-forming tissue such as the bone marrow and causes large numbers of abnormal blood cells to be produced and enter the blood.
Lymphoma and myeloma - cancers that begin in the cells of the immune system.
Central nervous system cancers - cancers that begin in the tissues of the brain and spinal cord.
Origins of Cancer
All cancers begin in cells, the body's basic unit of life. To understand cancer, it's helpful to know what happens when normal cells become cancer cells.
The body is made up of many types of cells. These cells grow and divide in a controlled way to produce more cells as they are needed to keep the body healthy. When cells become old or damaged, they die and are replaced with new cells.
However, sometimes this orderly process goes wrong. The genetic material (DNA) of a cell can become damaged or changed, producing mutations that affect normal cell growth and division. When this happens, cells do not die when they should and new cells form when the body does not need them. The extra cells may form a mass of tissue called a tumor.

Not all tumors are cancerous; tumors can be benign or malignant.
Benign tumors aren't cancerous. They can often be removed, and, in most cases, they do not come back. Cells in benign tumors do not spread to other parts of the body.
Malignant tumors are cancerous. Cells in these tumors can invade nearby tissues and spread to other parts of the body. The spread of cancer from one part of the body to another is called metastasis.
Some cancers do not form tumors. For example, leukemia is a cancer of the bone marrow and blood.
Cancer Statistics
A new report from the nation's leading cancer organizations shows that, for the first time since the report was first issued in 1998, both incidence and death rates for all cancers combined are decreasing for both men and women, driven largely by declines in some of the most common types of cancer.

Managing Cancer Pain

The World Health Organization developed a 3-step approach for pain management based on the severity of the pain:
For mild to moderate pain, the doctor may prescribe a Step 1 pain medication such as aspirin, acetaminophen, or a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID). Patients should be monitored for side effects, especially those caused by NSAIDs, such as kidney, heart and blood vessel, or stomach and intestinal problems.
When pain lasts or increases, the doctor may change the prescription to a Step 2 or Step 3 pain medication. Most patients with cancer -related pain will need a Step 2 or Step 3 medication. The doctor may skip Step 1 medications if the patient initially has moderate to severe pain.
At each step, the doctor may prescribe additional drugs or treatments (for example, radiation therapy).
The patient should take doses regularly, "by mouth, by the clock" (at scheduled times), to maintain a constant level of the drug in the body; this will help prevent recurrence of pain. If the patient is unable to swallow, the drugs are given by other routes (for example, by infusion or injection).
The doctor may prescribe additional doses of drug that can be taken as needed for pain that occurs between scheduled doses of drug.
The doctor will adjust the pain medication regimen for each patient's individual circumstances and physical condition.
Acetaminophen and NSAIDs
NSAIDs are effective for relief of mild pain. They may be given with opioids for the relief of moderate to severe pain. Acetaminophen also relieves pain, although it does not have the anti-inflammatory effect that aspirin and NSAIDs do. Patients, especially older patients, who are taking acetaminophen or NSAIDs should be closely monitored for side effects. Aspirin should not be given to children to treat pain.
Opioids
Opioids are very effective for the relief of moderate to severe pain. Many patients with cancer pain, however, become tolerant to opioids during long-term therapy. Therefore, increasing doses may be needed to continue to relieve pain. A patient's tolerance of an opioid or physical dependence on it is not the same as addiction (psychological dependence). Mistaken concerns about addiction can result in undertreating pain.
Types of Opioids
There are several types of opioids. Morphine is the most commonly used opioid in cancer pain management. Other commonly used opioids include hydromorphone, oxycodone, methadone, fentanyl, and tramadol. The availability of several different opioids allows the doctor flexibility in prescribing a medication regimen that will meet individual patient needs.
Guidelines for Giving Opioids
Most patients with cancer pain will need to receive pain medication on a fixed schedule to manage the pain and prevent it from getting worse. The doctor will prescribe a dose of the opioid medication that can be taken as needed along with the regular fixed-schedule opioid to control pain that occurs between the scheduled doses. The amount of time between doses depends on which opioid the doctor prescribes. The correct dose is the amount of opioid that controls pain with the fewest side effects. The goal is to achieve a good balance between pain relief and side effects by gradually adjusting the dose. If opioid tolerance does occur, it can be overcome by increasing the dose or changing to another opioid, especially if higher doses are needed.

Cancer registry

A register designed to collect information about the occurrence (incidence) of cancer, the types of cancers that occur and their locations within the body, the extent of cancer at the time of diagnosis (disease stage), and the kinds of treatment that patients receive. In the US, these data are reported to a central statewide registry from various medical facilities, including hospitals, physicians' offices, therapeutic radiation facilities, freestanding surgical centers, and pathology laboratories.
Data collected by state cancer registries enable public health professionals to better understand and address the cancer burden. Registry data are critical for targeting programs focused on risk-related behaviors (eg, tobacco use and exposure to the sun) or on environmental risk factors (eg, radiation and chemical exposures). Such information is also essential for identifying when and where cancer screening efforts should be enhanced and for monitoring the treatment provided to cancer patients. In addition, reliable registry data are fundamental to a variety of research efforts, including those aimed at evaluating the effectiveness of cancer prevention, control, or treatment programs.
State cancer registries in the US and comparable cancer registries in all countries are designed to:
Monitor cancer trends over time.
Determine cancer patterns in various populations.
Guide planning and evaluation of cancer control programs (eg, determine whether prevention, screening, and treatment efforts are making a difference).
Help set priorities for allocating health resources.
Advance clinical, epidemiologic, and health services research.
Provide information for a national database of cancer incidence.
In the US, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has administered the National Program of Cancer Registries (NPCR) since 1994. This program is currently helping states and U.S. territories to:
Improve their cancer registries.
Meet standards for data completeness, timeliness, and quality.
Use cancer data to support cancer prevention and control programs.
Train registry personnel.
Establish computerized reporting and data-processing systems.
Develop laws and regulations that strengthen registry operations.
Before the NPCR was established, 10 states in the US had no cancer registry and most states with registries lacked the resources and legislative support needed to gather complete data. With fiscal year 2002 funding of approximately $40 million, CDC's NPCR supported central registries and promoted the use of registry data in 45 states, the District of Columbia, and the territories of Puerto Rico, the Republic of Palau, and the Virgin Islands. CDC also developed special research projects such as studies to examine patterns of cancer care in specific populations. CDC's goal is for all states to maintain registries that provide high-quality data on cancer and cancer care.
NPCR complements NCI's Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) registry program. Together, NPCR and the SEER program collect cancer data for the entire U.S. population. The SEER program gathers in-depth data on cancer cases diagnosed in Connecticut, Hawaii, Iowa, New Mexico, and Utah, as well as in six metropolitan areas and several rural/special population areas. The six metropolitan SEER registries and some of the rural/special population registries submit data to NPCR's state registries. In 2001, SEER began providing additional support to four NPCR-supported state registries (California, Kentucky, Louisiana, and New Jersey).
A cancer registry operated on the state level in the United States. Data collected by state cancer registries enable public health professionals to better understand and address the cancer burden. Registry data are critical for targeting programs focused on risk-related behaviors (eg, tobacco use and exposure to the sun) or on environmental risk factors (eg, radiation and chemical exposures). Such information is also essential for identifying when and where cancer screening efforts should be enhanced and for monitoring the treatment provided to cancer patients. In addition, reliable registry data are fundamental to a variety of research efforts, including those aimed at evaluating the effectiveness of cancer prevention, control, or treatment programs.
State cancer registries in the US and comparable cancer registries in all countries are designed to:
Monitor cancer trends over time.
Determine cancer patterns in various populations.
Guide planning and evaluation of cancer control programs (eg, determine whether prevention, screening, and treatment efforts are making a difference).
Help set priorities for allocating health resources.
Advance clinical, epidemiologic, and health services research.
Provide information for a national database of cancer incidence.

Cancer symptoms n detection

Abnormal sensations or conditions that persons can notice that are a result of a cancer. It is important to see your doctor for regular checkups and not wait for problems to occur. But you should also know that the following symptoms may be associated with cancer: changes in bowel or bladder habits, a sore that does not heal, unusual bleeding or discharge, thickening or lump in the breast or any other part of the body, indigestion or difficulty swallowing, obvious change in a wart or mole, or nagging cough or hoarseness. These symptoms are not always a sign of cancer. They can also be caused by less serious conditions. Only a doctor can make a diagnosis. It is important to see a doctor if you have any of these symptoms. Don't wait to feel pain. Early cancer often does not cause pain.
Cancer detection:
Methods used to find cancer in persons who may or may not have symptoms. Symptoms of cancer are abnormal sensations or conditions that persons can notice that are a result of the cancer. It is important to your doctor for regular checkups and not wait for problems to occur. But you should also know that the following symptoms may be associated with cancer: changes in bowel or bladder habits, a sore that does not heal, unusual bleeding or discharge, thickening or lump in the breast or any other part of the body, indigestion or difficulty swallowing, obvious change in a wart or mole, or nagging cough or hoarseness. These symptoms are not always a sign of cancer. They can also be caused by less serious conditions. Only a doctor can make a diagnosis. It is important to see a doctor if you have any of these symptoms. Don't wait to feel pain. Early cancer often does not cause pain.

Breast Cancer

Breast cancer is cancer arising in breast tissue. Cancer is simply a group of abnormal cells that have abnormal growth patterns.
Although breast cancer is primarily a disease of women, almost 1% of breast cancers occur in men. In 2007, it is estimated that 2,030 men in the U.S. will develop invasive breast cancer.
Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer in women with the exception of nonmelanoma skin cancers. It is the second leading cause of death by cancer in women, following only lung cancer.
In 2007, the American Cancer Society estimated that 178,480 new cases of invasive breast cancer would be diagnosed among women in the United States, and that a further 62,030 new cases of in-situ (noninvasive) breast cancer would be diagnosed.
A woman has a lifetime risk of developing invasive breast cancer of about one in eight, or 13%.
Death rates from breast cancer have been gradually declining and continue to decline. These decreases are likely due both to increased awareness and screening and improved treatment methods.
Breast Cancer Causes
Many women who develop breast cancer have no risk factors other than age and sex.
Gender is the biggest risk because breast cancer occurs mostly in women.
Age is another critical factor. Breast cancer may occur at any age, though the risk of breast cancer increases with age. The average woman at age 30 years has one chance in 280 of developing breast cancer in the next 10 years. This chance increases to one in 70 for a woman aged 40 years, and to one in 40 at age 50 years. A 60-year-old woman has a one in 30 chance of developing breast cancer in the next 10 years.
White women are slightly more likely to develop breast cancer than African American women in the U.S.
A woman with a personal history of cancer in one breast has a three- to fourfold greater risk of developing a new cancer in the other breast or in another part of the same breast. This refers to the risk for developing a new tumor and not a recurrence (return) of the first cancer.
Breast Cancer Symptoms
Early breast cancer has no symptoms. It is usually not painful.
Most breast cancer is discovered before symptoms are present, either by finding an abnormality on mammography or feeling a breast lump. A lump in the armpit or above the collarbone that does not go away may be a sign of cancer. Other possible symptoms are breast discharge, nipple inversion, or changes in the skin overlying the breast.
Most breast lumps are not cancerous. All breast lumps, however, need to be evaluated by a doctor.
Breast discharge is a common problem and is rarely a symptom of cancer. Discharge is most concerning if it is from only one breast or if it is bloody. In any case, all breast discharge should be evaluated.

Cancer of the Mouth and Throat

The oral cavity (mouth) and the upper part of the throat (pharynx) have roles in many important functions, including breathing, talking, chewing, and swallowing. The mouth and upper throat are sometimes referred to as the oropharynx. The important structures of the mouth and upper throat include the following:
Lips
Inside lining of the cheeks (buccal mucosa)
Teeth
Gums
Tongue
Floor of the mouth
Back of the throat, including the tonsils (oropharynx)
Roof of the mouth (the bony front part [hard palate] and the softer rear part [soft palate])
Area behind the wisdom teeth
Salivary glandsMany different cell types make up these different structures. Cancer occurs when normal cells undergo a transformation whereby they grow and multiply without normal controls.
As the cells multiply, they form small abnormalities called lesions. Eventually, they form a mass called a tumor.
Tumors are cancerous only if they are malignant. This means that, because of their uncontrolled growth, they encroach on and invade neighboring tissues.
Malignant tumors may spread to neighboring tissues by direct invasion or by traveling along lymphatic vessels and nerves or through the blood stream.
They may also travel to remote organs via the bloodstream.
This process of invading and spreading to other organs is called metastasis.
Tumors overwhelm surrounding tissues by invading their space and taking the oxygen and nutrients they need to survive and function.Tumors in the mouth and throat include both benign and malignant types.
Benign tumors, although they may grow and penetrate below the surface layer of tissue, do not spread by metastasis to other parts of the body.
Benign tumors of the oropharynx are not discussed here.Premalignant conditions are cell changes that are not cancer but which may become cancer if not treated.
Dysplasia is another name for these precancerous cell changes.
Dysplasia can be detected only by taking a biopsy of the lesion. This means to collect a tiny sample of the abnormal area.
Examining the dysplastic cells under a microscope indicates how severe the changes are and how likely the lesion is to become cancerous.
The dysplastic changes are usually described as mild, moderately severe, or severe.
Mouth and Throat Cancer Symptoms
People with an oropharyngeal cancer may notice any of the following symptoms:
A painless lump on the lip, in the mouth, or in the throat
A sore on the lip or inside the mouth that does not heal
A painless white or red patch on the gums, tongue, or lining of the mouth
Unexplained pain, bleeding, or numbness inside the mouth
A sore throat that does not go away
Pain or difficulty with chewing or swallowing
Swelling of the jaw
Hoarseness or other change in the voice
Pain in the ear
Mouth and Throat Cancer Causes
Tobacco use is by far the most common risk factor for cancers of the mouth and throat. Both smoking and "smokeless" tobacco (snuff and chewing tobacco) increase the risk of developing cancer in the mouth or throat.
All forms of smoking are linked to these cancers, including cigarettes, cigars, and pipes. Tobacco smoke can cause cancer anywhere in the mouth and throat as well as in the lungs, the bladder, and many other organs in the body. Pipe smoking is particularly linked with lesions of the lips, where the pipe comes in contact with the tissue.
Smokeless tobacco is linked with cancers of the cheeks, gums, and inner surface of the lips. Cancers caused by smokeless tobacco use often begin as leukoplakia or erythroplakia.

Stomach Cancer

The stomach is a muscular bag with a capacity of about 1 liter or quart. It lies along the digestive tract between the esophagus and the small intestine. The stomach serves as a reservoir for food eaten during meals and begins the process of digestion. Its inner walls are composed of glands that secrete acid and digestive enzymes.
The most common form of cancer that affects the stomach is adenocarcinoma, which arises in the glands of the innermost layer of the stomach. This tumor tends to spread through the wall of the stomach and from there into the adjoining organs (pancreas and spleen) and lymph nodes. It can spread through the bloodstream and lymph system to distant organs (metastasize).
The incidence and death rates for stomach cancer have decreased markedly during the past 60 years. In 1930, stomach cancer was the leading cause of cancer-related deaths among American men. Since then, the death rate in men from stomach cancer in the United States has dropped from 28 to 5 per 100,000 people.
In 1996, about 22,800 new cases of stomach cancer were diagnosed in the United States, and 14,000 Americans died of the disease. This form of cancer is 1.5-2.5 times more common in African American, Hispanic, and Native American people than in whites.
Stomach Cancer Symptoms
Early symptoms of stomach cancer tend to be vague and nonspecific. Seek medical attention if you have any of the following symptoms:
Mild upper abdominal discomfort associated with nausea and loss of appetite .
Difficulty swallowing because of a tumor involving the upper part of your stomach, near the esophagus .
Feeling of fullness after taking only a small amount of food.
Stomach Cancer Treatment
The treatment of stomach cancer depends on the results of tests and your overall health.
People with advanced heart and lung disease may not tolerate aggressive therapy.
In many cases, the stomach cancer may have advanced too far for any available treatment to work.
You will require surgery to be cured. Your stomach is removed entirely, and your esophagus is attached to your small intestine.
Surgery may relieve symptoms of obstruction. The upper end of your stomach is connected to your small bowel, bypassing the area of obstruction.
Companion treatment with either chemotherapy or radiation may improve your survival following surgery.
After your stomach has been removed, your doctor will monitor your disease with repeat CT scans of your abdomen and gastrointestinal endoscopy to make sure the cancer does not return.

Pancreatic Cancer

The pancreas is an organ in the upper abdomen located beneath the stomach and adjacent to the first portion of the small intestine, called the duodenum. The pancreas is composed of glands that are responsible for a wide variety of tasks. The glandular functions of the pancreas can be divided into the following 2 categories:
Exocrine: The exocrine glands secrete enzymes into ducts that eventually empty into the duodenum. These enzymes then help in the digestion of food as it moves through the intestines.
Endocrine: The endocrine glands secrete hormones, including insulin, into the bloodstream. Insulin is carried by the blood throughout the rest of the body to assist in the process of using sugar as an energy source. Insulin also controls the levels of sugar in the blood.
The pancreas can be divided into the following 4 anatomical sections:
Head - The rightmost portion that lies adjacent to the duodenum
Uncinate process - An extension of the head of the pancreas
Body - The middle portion of the pancreas
Tail - The leftmost portion of the pancreas that lies adjacent to the spleen
Intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasia (IPMN) is a type of pancreatic cancer that is beginning to be recognized more frequently. This pancreatic cancer has a better prognosis than other types of pancreatic cancer. Intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasia is usually diagnosed endoscopically (see Exams and Tests).
The most common type of pancreatic cancer arises from the exocrine glands and is called adenocarcinoma of the pancreas. The endocrine glands of the pancreas can give rise to a completely different type of cancer, referred to as pancreatic neuroendocrine carcinoma or islet cell tumor. This article only discusses issues related to the more common type of pancreatic adenocarcinoma.Pancreatic adenocarcinoma is among the most aggressive of all cancers. By the time that pancreatic cancer is diagnosed, most people already have disease that has spread to distant sites in the body. Pancreatic cancer is also relatively resistant to medical treatment, and the only potentially curative treatment is surgery. In 2004, approximately 31,800 people in the United States were diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, and approximately 31,200 people died of this disease. These numbers reflect the challenge in treating pancreatic cancer and the relative lack of curative options.

Lung Cancer

Cancer of the lung, like all cancers, results from an abnormality in the body's basic unit of life, the cell. Normally, the body maintains a system of checks and balances on cell growth so that cells divide to produce new cells only when needed. Disruption of this system of checks and balances on cell growth results in an uncontrolled division and proliferation of cells that eventually forms a mass known as a tumor.
Tumors can be benign or malignant; when we speak of "cancer," we refer to those tumors that are considered malignant. Benign tumors can usually be removed and do not spread to other parts of the body. Malignant tumors, on the other hand, grow aggressively and invade other tissues of the body, allowing entry of tumor cells into the bloodstream or lymphatic system and then to other sites in the body. This process of spread is termed metastasis; the areas of tumor growth at these distant sites are called metastases. Since lung cancer tends to spread or metastasize very early in its course, it is a very life-threatening cancer and one of the most difficult cancers to treat. While lung cancer can spread to any organ in the body, certain organs -- particularly the adrenal glands, liver, brain, and bone -- are the most common sites for lung-cancer metastasis.
The lung is also a very common site for metastasis from tumors in other parts of the body. Tumor metastases are made up of the same type of cells as the original, or primary, tumor. For example, if prostate cancer spreads via the bloodstream to the lungs, it is metastatic prostate cancer in the lung and is not lung cancer.

The principal function of the lungs is the exchange of gases between the air we breathe and the blood. Through the lung, carbon dioxide is removed from the bloodstream and oxygen from inspired air enters the bloodstream. The right lung has three lobes, while the left lung is divided into two lobes and a small structure called the lingula that is the equivalent of the middle lobe. The major airways entering the lungs are the bronchi, which arise from the trachea. The bronchi branch into progressively smaller airways called bronchioles that end in tiny sacs known as alveoli where gas exchange occurs. The lungs and chest wall are covered with a thin layer of tissue called the pleura.
Lung cancers can arise in any part of the lung, but 90%-95% of cancers of the lung are thought to arise from the epithelial, or lining cells of the larger and smaller airways (bronchi and bronchioles); for this reason, lung cancers are sometimes called bronchogenic carcinomas or bronchogenic cancers. Cancers can also arise from the pleura (the thin layer of tissue that surrounds the lungs), called mesotheliomas, or rarely from supporting tissues within the lungs, for example, blood vessels.

Prostate Cancer

Prostate Cancer
The prostate, part of the male reproductive system, is a gland located under the bladder and in front of the rectum. Prostate cancer usually begins in the gland cells and grows slowly, so many men have prostate cancer but are unaware of it. Sometimes, however, prostate cancer will grow and spread quickly. Prostate cancer is highly curable when detected and treated early.

Unfortunately, many men with prostate cancer become confused regarding the complex array of options that are available for prevention and treatment. The Prostate Cancer and Genitourinary Oncology Program at The James can help men and their families choose among the array of prostate cancer treatment options.

In addition, The James is a cutting-edge research facility where discovery is translated into more effective prevention and diagnostic strategies as well as more effective and safer treatments. Among recent research advances:

The James was one of many sites in a national study involving 18,000 men that demonstrated the ability of a hormonal agent, finasteride, to reduce the risk of prostate cancer by 25 percent. More than 250 men in Ohio and Kentucky participated through the Ohio State clinics directed by Steven K. Clinton, MD, PhD, and Robert Bahnson, MD. The study was the first in history to demonstrate that an intervention could protect men from developing prostate cancer.

The James is participating in the largest prostate cancer prevention trial to date, called SELECT (Selenium and Vitamin E Cancer Prevention Trial). The Ohio State effort, directed by J. Paul Monk, MD, and Drs. Clinton and Bahnson, will determine whether dietary supplements of vitamin E and selenium can prevent prostate cancer. The 12-year study is expected to involve more than 400 trial sites, with approximately 32,000 healthy men over the age of 55 (over 50 for African-Americans) participating.

Dr. Clinton and colleagues at the OSUCCC – James are seeking to prove whether consumption of tomato-based products and soy can reduce the risk of prostate cancer, as epidemiologic studies have suggested. These investigators are bringing dietary and nutritional studies into the clinic, where men with prostate cancer are able to participate in these important and exciting clinical trials.

Endocrine Cancer

Endocrine Cancer
Endocrine cancers are a mixed group of diseases in which cancer cells are found in tissues of the endocrine system, which includes the thyroid, adrenal, pancreas, parathyroid, and pituitary glands.
More than 25,000 people are diagnosed with thyroid cancer in the United States each year, but other types of endocrine cancer are rare. Although tumors of other endocrine glands are not uncommon, they are almost always benign. The difference between a cancer and a benign tumor (“adenoma”) is that cancers spread by invading neighboring or distant tissue, whereas benign tumors do not spread. Because endocrine glands normally secrete hormones, tumors of these glands may also secret hormones, often in abnormal amounts. However, the fact that a tumor secretes a hormone does not make it benign (or cancerous). This feature is determined solely based on the capacity of the tumor to spread out of its normal position.
At the OSU Comprehensive Cancer Center - James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute, we have experts in this highly specialized field who have dedicated their lives to supporting and caring for cancer patients and their families. Our team approach provides the best cancer research and treatment, putting our physicians and researchers on the leading edge of advances in detecting and treating endocrine cancers.
For questions about endocrine cancers, please call The James Line – a free cancer information resource and physician referral service – at (614) 293-5066 or 1-800-293-5066 (outside Franklin County) or e-mail now. The James Line is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week with oncology nurses here to help you with your concerns about cancer from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday - Friday.

Bone cancer

Bone Cancer
Primary bone cancers (those that originate in the bone) represent less than 0.2 percent of all cancers. The most common types occur most frequently in children and adolescents and are especially rare in middle-aged adults.
The most common form of bone sarcoma in adults is chondrosarcoma. It usually occurs in adults between the sixth and eighth decades of life. This form of cancer is treated by surgery alone, as radiation therapy and chemotherapy are not effective for this entity. Ohio State's Comprehensive Cancer Center – James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute has the only physician in central Ohio who is an expert in the management of chondrosarcoma.
The Division of Musculoskeletal Oncology at The James stands at the forefront of research and patient care in this rapidly changing field. Division Director Joel Mayerson, MD, is among the rare orthopaedic surgeons who specialize in musculoskeletal oncology. He leads a multidisciplinary team of medical oncologists, radiation oncologists and pathologists focused on early detection and treatment. He also works with Children’s Hospital of Columbus to ensure the best possible treatment for young patients battling the disease.
A good example of the advances made by the musculoskeletal oncology team at The James is the surgery performed by Dr. Mayerson that saved a 10-year-old boy’s leg by replacing the femur with a newly designed expandable prosthesis. It was the first use in the United States of a total femur prosthesis that can be lengthened without surgery as the patient grows.

Cancer-precations

The type of treatment or the order of treatment will be different for individual patients, depending on the location of the tumour, the stage of the disease at diagnosis and what BC Cancer Treatment guidelines.indicate.For example, surgery is not always the first treatment. Sometimes radiation therapy or cancer drugs are used to shrink the tumour prior to surgery, or chemotherapy may be the best first option. Sometimes one type of treatment is used, often a combination of treatments are used.
Patients and families may hear the term "investigational treatment". This means that the treatment is being studied in a clinical trial to determine whether it is a safe and effective way to treat cancer.
"Support programs", "alternative" or "complementary" are also terms patients may come across. It is important to understand there are critical differences between conventional treatments, support (coping with cancer) programs and unconventional theraphConventional therapies have been proven to cure cancers. Support programs are used to help patients who are using conventional treatments. Alternative or complementary therapies have not usually undergone rigorous scientific testing to see if they are safe or effective.