Scientists have encouraged more people to pay attention to the symptoms of the aggressive form of cancer that affects children and adolescents. Every year, doctors in the United Kingdom, according to the diary, find out more than 150 cases of this disease but Young people often face a significant delay in diagnosis, causing shockingly low survival.
New research of the University of Nottingham shows that the long -term survival rate of bone cancer, such as osteosarcoma and Ewing sarcoma, has not changed for more than 15 years. Scientists said that Less than seven out of ten people affected by these cancers will survive more than five years. They called to accelerate the diagnosis so that patients could receive treatment earlier.
“Efforts to improve results in children with bone tumors have not led to improving the cure or disability rate for almost two decades. It is time to examine whether the acceleration of the diagnosis could change this static condition, ” He said David Walker, Professor of Pediatric Oncology at Nottingham University.
Bone cancer such as osteosarcoma may cause symptoms such as Bone pain – often in the knee or shoulder, as well as sensitivity and swelling or fractures after minor injuries. However, scientists have stated that different types of bone cancer can lead to various symptoms. For example, children and adolescents with Ewing sarcoma had more frequent fever or problems with the use of limbs, while children with osteosarcoma often suffered from inexplicable fractures, pain and weight loss.
The authors of the study said that understanding these differences could help speed up diagnosis and improve results. “Childbone bone tumors can be difficult to diagnose because symptoms are often non -specific and may overlap with symptoms of more common diseases such as injuries or infections. These problems point to the need to raise awareness of healthcare professionals on children’s bone tumors to facilitate their timely recognition and diagnosis, “says Dr. Anita Chithiramohan.
Bone cancer is one of the 10 most common types of cancer in children. However, young people and their families often do not think that symptoms such as pain and bone sensitivity could be caused by cancer. Sports injuries, growth pain or infections may sometimes seem more likely to be explained.
Scientists said that Approximately one in ten patients await more than three months to contact a healthcare professional after the symptoms are observed. Then, however, patients often encounter further delays in diagnosis. Practitioners can see a case of cancer in children only once every 20 years, which may further make diagnosis.
“Cancer of childhood in primary care is still considered rare, so it is not the first practitioner in the first place,” said Dr. Paul Nathan, a general practitioner. According to scientists, the results of the work will be used to develop guidelines for a recommendation for examination, which will help healthcare professionals to recognize bone cancer rather, which can save families from heartbreaking consequences of late diagnosis.
Osteosarcoma is the most common type of bone cancer in children. Tumors may occur in any bone in the body, but most commonly occur in the bones on both sides of the knee and shoulder. It mainly affects children and young adults under 25 years and according to the organization Children with Cancer UK has a 65 % survival rate. Ewing’s sarcoma is the second most common type of bone cancer in children, which mainly affects the legs, pelvis, hands and ribs.
Children suffering from osteosarcoma or Ewing sarcoma may occur:
- Bone pain – Initially may come and leave, but then it may become more permanent,
- sensitivity,
- redness,
- swelling,
- fracture – may occur after a minor injury at the site of the weakened bone.
According to CCLG, the most common symptom of bone cancer is pain that often worsens at night. Swelling may also occur in the affected area if the tumor is close to the body surface and may be sensitive to the touch. Bone cancer can cause curvature if the tumor is in the leg or pelvis, while people with Ewing sarcoma may also feel fever or weight loss.
Who is most at risk of bone cancer?
The causes of bone cancer were the subject of many research but As with most cases, the cause of bone cancer in childhood is not clearly known. However, it is important to note that you have not caused anything you would do.
Children who have hereditary retinoblastoma – a rare eye tumor – may have an increased risk of developing osteosarcoma. Children who have previously undergone radiotherapy and chemotherapy have an increased risk of developing osteosarcoma. It is not caused by injuries or damage to the bone, although the accident may alert the bone tumor. The emergence of Ewing’s sarcoma may in some way are related to the period of rapid bone growth, which can explain why multiple cases occur in adolescents.
