Introduction

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Introduction

Most bone cancers are called secondary tumors because they arise from other cancers which have spread from other parts of the body. Cancers that actually arise in the bones are relatively uncommon. However, there are two major types of bone cancer: Osteosarcoma and Ewing's sarcoma. Ewing's sarcoma, or bone marrow cancer, is usually most common in people under the age of 20.

Highlights

Chemotherapy

Cancer and Children

Leukemia

Bone marrow cancer most commonly occurs in the shafts of long bones. Although the first signs of bone marrow cancer varies from patient to patient, symptoms may include fever, fatigue, poor appetite, and weight loss. However, the early symptoms may be so sporadic and subtle, the patient may not see a doctor until the cancer has spread to other parts of the body.

In the past, when people were diagnosed with bone marrow cancer, the treatment typically involved the removal of the cancerous marrow through extensive surgery. However, a combination of high does of chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and conservative surgery is now being used. Generally, during the surgery, the healthy bone marrow is removed through two very small incisions in the back of the hip (or from the iliac crest) while the patient is under anesthesia. The bone marrow is processed and stored in a freezer. While this is being done, the patient will receive chemotherapy and radiation. Usually one or two days later, they will then receive their own marrow back.

Bone Marrow Transplant (BMT)

Diseases treated with a Bone Marrow Transplant

More than 60 diseases are treated with unrelated marrow transplants. These diseases include: chronic myelogenous leukemia, acute lymphoblastic leukemia, acute myelogenous leukemia, myelodysplasia, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, severe combined immunodeficiency syndrome, Fanconi's anemia, Hurler's syndrome, Hodgkin's disease, hemoglobinopathies, sickle cell anemia, thalassemia, and many other life-threatening blood diseases.

Difference between Autologous, Allogenic and Syngenic?

An allogenic transplant is performed using the marrow of a donor (related or unrelated). An autologous transplant is performed using the patient's marrow which has been removed, stored in a freezer and then returned to the body after the patient receives high doses of chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy. In some cases, procedures for removing residual tumor cells are employed prior to freezing. Autologous BMTs are commonly used to treat solid tumors or lymphomas. Syngenic bone marrow transplants are performed from one identical twin to the other.

Search for unrelated donor

For a patient to see if any of these potential donors have the same HLA typing, a preliminary search needs to be performed. A preliminary search can be run by a transplant center (hospital), or by your doctor (the referring physician). Your doctor would need to have the patient's HLA A, B, DR antigen testing results first.

Check for matches

The Registry can be checked at any time, as many times as a patient, their physician or transplant center requests.

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