Leading London Anaesthetist Nigel Kellow advises on bone cancer pain

Total Health | September 28th, 2009

It is well known that some of the worst forms of pain arise from tumourAn abnormal swelling. metastasesSecondary tumours’ that result from the spread of a malignant tumour to other parts of the body. and bone pain. Options for treating these have traditionally been limited. Over the past few years there have been considerable advances in techniques to target treatment exclusively at the tumour in order to reduce the side effects and complications caused by chemotherapyThe use of chemical substances to treat disease, particularly cancer., radiotherapyThe treatment of disease using radiation., and analgesia.

Bone metastases are rarely treated surgically because surgery is rarely curative; it can also be difficult to gain surgical access to the tumour without destroying too much healthy tissueA group of cells with a similar structure and a specialised function.. In addition adequate surgical excisionThe removal of a piece of tissue or an organ from the body. often excessively weakens the affected bone thus increasing the risk of fracture.

While open surgery is playing a smaller role in the management of metastatic deposits there have been rapid advances in percutaneous techniques guided by new imaging technologies. In his article for totalhealth London Anaesthetist Nigel Kellow explains some of the most up to date options for both tumour destruction and spine stablisation.

Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) involving a fine probe inserted into the centre off the tumour has become the treatment of choice for many patients with liverA large abdominal organ that has many important roles including the production of bile and clotting factors, detoxification, and the metabolism of proteins, carbohydrates and fats., lung, or bone metastases and offers an alternative to surgery for some patients with primary lung tumours.

  • Cryoablation where freezing is used to destroy the tumour rather than heat.
  • Vertebroplasty where bone cement is injected into the spine to treat pain from metastatic spinal cancerAbnormal, uncontrolled cell division resulting in a malignant tumour that may invade surrounding tissues or spread to distant parts of the body.
  • Balloon kyphoplasty. A balloon is inserted into the diseased vertebralAffecting the vertebrae, the bones of the spine, or the joints between them body  then inflated to restore the vertebral body towards its pre-fracture height and shape.

Dr Kellow also answers the question most patients will have: “Am I a suitable candidate for these treatments”?

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