What Is Osteosarcoma: Bone Cancer Sushant Singh Rajput Suffers In 'Dil Bechara'

Sushant Singh Rajput¡¯s last film Dil Bechara was recently released amid much nostalgia by the fans for the Bollywood superstar.

In the movie, characters of both the lead actors - Sushant Singh Rajput and Sanjana Sanghi, are seen struggling with two different forms of cancer.

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Manny, played by Sushant Singh Rajput's character, suffers from osteosarcoma, an illness that has now led many to raise questions about it.

The American Cancer Society defines Osteosarcoma (or osteogenic sarcoma) as the most common type of cancer that starts in the bones. Though osteosarcoma can develop in anyone at any age, it usually affects children and young adults. Males are more likely to be diagnosed with it than females.

The exact cause of Osteosarcoma is yet unknown but we do know how it affects the human body.

What is Osteosarcoma?

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As per John Hopkins Medicine, osteosarcoma is a type of cancer that usually develops in the osteoblast cells that form bones. The most commonly affected body part by the disease are the long bones around the knee. Other than that, osteosarcoma can occur in ¡°the upper leg, or thighbone, the lower leg, upper arm bone, or any bone in the body, including those in the pelvis, shoulder, and skull.¡±

The cancer cells in osteosarcoma tumors look like early forms of bone cells. Normally, these cells help make new bone tissue. The bone tissue in an osteosarcoma, however, is not as strong as that of normal bones.

Osteosarcoma care and symptoms

Osteosarcoma usually starts in ¡°areas where the bone is growing quickly¡± in children and young adults, states ACS. These sites are near the ends of the leg or arm bones.

¡°Most tumors develop in the bones around the knee, either in the distal femur (the lower part of the thigh bone) or the proximal tibia (the upper part of the shinbone),¡± ACS says.

In older adults, osteosarcoma can develop in any bone, including pelvis bones (hips), shoulder bones, as well as the jaw.

Spreading from bones, osteosarcoma can possibly grow into nearby tissues, such as tendons or muscles. It can further spread through the bloodstream to other organs or bones in the body.

Different types of osteosarcoma

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Osteosarcoma is classified into three categories - high grade, intermediate grade, or low grade. Doctors examine the grade of the tumor to determine how likely it is that the cancer will grow to other body parts.

High-grade osteosarcomas are the fastest growing type. These do not look like normal bone cells under a microscope. Instead many cells can be observed to be in the process of dividing into new cells. There are several types of high-grade osteosarcomas.

Intermediate-grade osteosarcomas are the uncommon tumors that are usually treated the same way as low-grade osteosarcomas. The slowest-growing osteosarcomas are the low-grade ones, wherein the tumors look more like normal bone and have few dividing cells when observed under a microscope.

As per the grade of the tumor, doctors determine the stage of the cancer and appropriate treatment.

Symptoms

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Pain in the affected bone and swelling around the area are the most common symptoms of osteosarcoma. The pain can worsen over time, often increasing with activity. In case the tumor is in a leg bone, it might even result in a limp.

In severe cases, an uncommon symptom might be a bone fracture, wherein a months-long sore limb becomes very painful when the fracture occurs.

Disclaimer: The description of osteosarcomas all through this article is for the information of the reader and in no way, should be taken as a substitute for a doctor¡¯s advice. Any personal consultation on the disease should strictly be sought through professional medics.