Dr. Mayil Vahanan Natarajan, Padma Shri, is an acclaimed and best orthopaedic oncosurgeon in India and has over 43 years of experience. Dr. Mayil Vahanan Natarajan specializes in Correction of Deformities, Functional Orthopedics, Herniated Disc, and Skeletal Muscle Therapy. He played a key role in establishing Orthopaedic Oncology as a Sub-Specialty in Orthopaedic Surgery in India. He was the seventh Vice-Chancellor of The Tamil Nadu Dr. M.G.R. Medical University, Guindy, Chennai.
Dr. Mayil Vahanan Natarajan has designed, invented and patented many types of Custom Mega Prosthesis and holds the world record for performing over 1700 custom mega prosthesis operations. He was the first to create the concept of Limb Salvage Surgery by Custom Mega Prosthesis. Currently, Dr. Mayil Vahanan Natarajan is associated with Apollo Cancer Hospital, Chennai.
Dr. Mayil Vahanan Natarajan has several medical research publications to his credit and held positions in reputed institutions. He was the President of many academic bodies such as the Tamil Nadu Orthopaedic Association, Asia Pacific Musculo-Skeletal Tumor Society, Indian Orthopaedic Association, and the International Trauma Anesthesia and Critical Care Society Indian Chapter.
Dr. Mayil Vahanan Natarajan has several national and international awards and recognitions to his name including the Dr. B. C. Roy National Award, National Award for the Welfare of the Disabled, British Orthopaedic Association Wishbone Trust Award, International Cancer Technology Award, Japanese Orthopaedic Association Appreciation Award, and Korean Orthopaedic Association Appreciation Award.
Bone Cancer
Bone cancers are malignant tumors originating in the bone cells. Bone cancer destroys the bone cells and spreads to other organs of the body. Bone cancers can affect both adults and children. Bone cancers are categorized into:
- Osteosarcoma: It is the most common form of bone cancer affecting young people between the ages of 10 and 30. It starts in the bones of arms, legs, or hips.
- Ewing Sarcoma: One of the most common of cancers, these cancers start at the hip bones. or the chest wall.
- Chondrosarcoma: These are cancers that develop in the cartilage of the arms, legs, hips, larynx, shoulder blades, ribs, or skull.
- UPS: Undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma starts in the soft connective tissues such as tendons, ligaments, fat, and muscles.
- Fibrosarcoma: These cancers develop in the soft tissues associated with bones.
- Giant Cell Tumor: These typically grow in the arms or legs.
- Chordoma: This occurs in the bones of the spine most often at the base of the skull. These cancers have a slow growth rate.
Symptoms of Bone Cancer
Some of the symptoms of bone cancer are:
- Pain in the bones
- Weak bones prone to fractures
- Fatigue
- Swelling in a particular area of the arms or legs
- Weight Loss
If the symptoms become worse over time, it is advisable to visit a doctor. Apollo Hospitals, Chennai has the best orthopaedic oncosurgeons in India.
Treatment of Bone Cancer
Once cancer has been diagnosed and staged, treatment can begin. Treatment for bone cancers may be a combination of surgery with radiation and chemotherapy.
Surgery:
During surgery, the cancerous growth along with some healthy tissues surrounding it are removed. Bone cancer surgery is done by specialists known as orthopaedic oncosurgeons. Amputation of the limb was once considered a surgical remedy for bone cancers. As research progressed, limb-sparing or limb-salvage techniques have some into practice. Dr. Mayil Vahanan Natarajan has been a pioneer in his field in developing and researching limb salvage surgery methods.
Precise staging of bone cancer and its location is key to successfully save the affected limb with wide excision surgical techniques. Limb sparing surgeries have reduced the necessity for amputations in bone cancer patients where metal plates or bones from another part of the body can be used to replace the missing bone. Apollo Cancer Hospital has the best orthopaedic oncologists in Chennai and state-of-the-art facilities for bone cancer treatment.
Systemic Therapies:
Systemic therapy refers to the process of administering medication into the bloodstream to destroy cancer cells. Chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and targeted therapy are systemic therapies used for cancer treatments.
Certain bone cancers such as osteosarcoma and Ewing sarcoma tend to recur after surgery in the lungs or other distant organs. Therefore, surgery is not always enough. Fast-growing cancers are often treated with chemotherapy before surgery to reduce the size and make them easier to remove. Cancer treatments require a multidisciplinary approach and the best orthopaedic oncosurgeons in Chennai work together with physicians to provide the best treatment options for bone cancer patients.
Radiation:
High energy radiation beams are used to destroy cancer cells in radiation therapy. Radiation may be given externally or internally through implants. For bone cancers, radiation is used to reduce cancer size before the surgery or afterwards to destroy any cancer cells that may have remained. Radiation helps to preserve the limb by reducing the need for extensive surgery.
Conclusion
Rehabilitation is necessary after bone cancer treatment for patients who have prostheses fitted. The treatment for bone cancer can cause physical symptoms, side effects, and stress. Cancer treatments, therefore, need a holistic approach to meet the patients needs which may not always be medical. Apollo Cancer Hospital, Chennai is one of the best hospitals in Chennai that offers patients complete cancer care at affordable costs.
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