Treatment Options for Bone Cancer
Specific treatment for Bone cancer will be determined by your physician based on:
- Your age, overall health, and medical history
- Stage of the cancer
- Your tolerance for specific medications and procedures
- Expectations for the course of the disease
- Your opinion or preference
Chemotherapy is the use of anti-cancer drugs to treat cancerous cells. In most cases, chemotherapy works by interfering with the cancer cell’s ability to grow or reproduce. Different groups of drugs work in different ways to fight cancer cells. The oncologist will recommend a treatment plan for each individual. Chemotherapy may be used along with radiation therapy as the primary treatment. Chemotherapy may also be used to shrink a tumor prior to surgery.
Chemotherapy has been used for many years and is one of the most common treatments for cancer. In most cases, chemotherapy works by interfering with the cancer cell’s ability to grow or reproduce. Different groups of drugs work in different ways to fight cancer cells. Chemotherapy may be used alone for some types of cancer or in combination with other treatments such as radiation or surgery. Often, a combination of chemotherapy drugs is used to fight a specific cancer. Certain chemotherapy drugs may be given in a specific order depending on the type of cancer it is being used to treat.
Radiation therapy (also called radiation oncology) uses special kinds of energy waves or particles to fight cancer and sometimes non-cancerous diseases. Like surgery, radiation therapy is used in several ways depending on the type and location of the cancer. Certain levels of radiation work to destroy cancer cells or prevent normal or cancer cells from growing or reproducing. This treatment may provide a cure for cancer or non-cancerous diseases, control of disease, or relief of its symptoms.
A personalized approach to radiation treatment
Stanford’s team recognize that the logistics of treatment themselves can be difficult. Physicians and staff do their best to streamline processes in several ways:
- Patient Coordinators work with patients and their doctors to coordinate with insurance providers, determine clinical trial eligibility, gather information prior to consultation, and expedite appointments.
Targeted Therapy
Newer medications called targeted therapies may be used along with chemotherapy or sometimes by themselves. For example, some newer medications target proteins that are found more often on cancer cells than on normal cells. These medications have different (and often milder) side effects than standard chemotherapy medications and help people live longer. These include Avastin® (bevacizumab), Nexavar® (sorafenib), Torisel® (temsirolimus), Afinitor® (everolimus), Sutent® (sunitinib), and Inlyta® (axitinib). A vaccine for treatment also is under study.