Hyderabad: 18 cases of osteosarcoma, a form of bone cancer, were registered till march this year while fifty cases were registered in 2016, at the MNJ Cancer Hospital. Out of the 68 cases of osteosarcoma, a majority of the cases came from the Old City and the patients were mostly children and young teens. This was reported by Deccan Chronicle.
The patient succumbed to the disease in one to two years, despite treatment. According Dr S, Ram, senior oncologist, osteosarcoma is the most common type of bone cancer.
He explained that this cancer begins in the bones mostly around the knee or the long bones and sometimes spreads to the lungs. Chances of survival are high if it is treated in time, but presently, the treatment is becoming impossible as the cases are coming only at the end stage, he said.
Mr. Mujtaba Askari, who runs the helpdesk at the hospital, stressed the need for creating awareness about the disease, as the large number of cases are coming from one geographical location.