Chondromyxoid Fibroma

Chondromyxoid fibroma (CMF) is a type of cancer that affects cartilage. It is a very rare tumor that accounts for less than 1 percent of total bone tumors.

Furthermore, the tumor is benign (noncancerous) in nature. That means it does not spread to other parts of the body. This cancer mostly affects young adults under the age of 30 years or older children.

Moreover, both males and females have an equal chance of developing this cancer. Surgery is an effective way to control this tumor by removing it.

What causes Chondromyxoid Fibroma?

There is no clear cause of what leads to this cancer. Further, no connection between other risk factors and this tumor is there. Unlike other cancers where there is a close link between various risk factors and them, here the story is different.

Thus, no proven research is there that indicates that chemicals, radiations, or exposure to chemicals cause this tumor. However, the research is going on.

How to say if you have Chondromyxoid Fibroma?

The symptoms may vary from person to person. Besides, some patients may develop no symptoms at all. However, most of the patients may feel a bump at the site of the tumor.

Furthermore, the bump may associate with severe pain. Some patients may also feel no pain at all. Meanwhile, sometimes, no bump is present. Such cases may experience a little amount of pain at the place of the tumor.

Chondromyxoid fibroma (“chondro” means cartilage) is a tumor that develops out of the cartilage-forming tissue that is present in the bone marrow.

Cancer usually starts at the ends of the long bones. These long bones mostly consist of lower-body bones such as the femur (thighbone) or tibia (shinbone).

Tibia which is present near the knee is the most common location of CMF. However, it may affect other locations like the femur near the knee, pelvis (hip area), and the bones of the foot.

Diagnosis?

Physical Examination: Your doctor will try many ways to detect your tumor. To get a good idea of your disease, your doctor will start with your general health. Then, he/she will ask for your symptoms.

One of the commonest sign is pain in the tumor’s area. This is typical of tumors like Chondromyxoid fibroma. In contrast, your pain will vanish slowly if it is an injury.

Your healthcare provider will see if there is any tenderness over the bone. Furthermore, he/she may check the range of motion in the area of your tumor.

Tests. Your doctor will perform various tests to diagnose and confirm the tumor.

X-rays. Your doctor will get pictures of your sense structures through this test. Most of the chondromyxoid fibromas are oval and their size ranges from 1 to 4 cm. Besides, a white rim often surrounds these tumors in X-rays.

Most often, cancer grows aggressively and destroys portions of your bone. This leads to the pushing of the tumor into surrounding soft tissues.

Other imaging scans. To further test and confirm the tumor, your doctor may order a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan, computerized tomography (CT) scan, or bone scan.

A CT scan or an MRI can show the changes in the appearance of a tumor over time. Although unnecessary, it can also depict the exact size of a tumor.

Biopsy. In this invasive technique, your surgeon will remove a small part of the tumor using a hollow needle. Then, this your doctor will perform microscopic analysis on this part and confirm the test.

The arrangement and structure of cells will help your doctor confirm cancer. A chondromyxoid fibroma shows elements of benign cartilage and fibrous tissue under a microscope.

Treatment?

Surgery is the main treatment for chondromyxoid fibroma.

Curettage. It is the main way of treating chondromyxoid fibroma. This is the surgical procedure that your doctor may use to treat chondromyxoid fibroma.

Your surgeon will scrap the tumor out of the bone by using special instruments. This can cure your fibroma. After performing the surgery, your doctor will fill the hole that forms during Curettage. This helps stabilize the bone by

 the bone graft from another bone of your body (autograft) or a donor (allograft). Afterward, to fill the hole, your doctor may use a bone cement mixture.

Complications of Surgery?

One of the most serious complications of the treatment is the ability of the tumor to recur. Even though, if your doctor adequately treats the tumor, still the tumor show recurrence. For instance, 25 percent of the time, the tumor grows back at the place of its origin.

However, your surgeon will try to remove the most aggressive tumors. But, in that case, also, there are high chances of permanently damaging the bone or causing other complications. These complications may include infection. In rare cases, the fracture of the bone may also occur.

Coping and support 

When you get diagnosed with chondromyxoid fibroma, it could be frightening for you. The condition will be no different for your family.

 However, you may learn to cope with the uncertainty and distress related to cancer with time.  Thus, you need to follow these instructions until then;

Call on for medical support:

 Various things are going to help you. For instance, the knowledge and understanding of a medical social worker, or any other mental health professional is necessary. They will help you in understanding your cancer.

Furthermore, if your child or other family member suffers from cancer, you need to ask health care professionals for advice. They will provide you with options for medical health support. This will also provide you with emotional and social support.

In addition to this, you can check various online services that will provide you support to combat cancer.

• Gain more knowledge about chondromyxoid fibroma to make decisions about control and care: 

Ask your doctor about various treatment options related to chondromyxoid fibroma. Little knowledge is dangerous. Therefore, more confidence in understanding and making decisions about treatment options will be there with you. So you should always learn more about the disease.

Ask the health care team for guidance if your child has cancer. Therefore, get more and more information for appropriately caring for the patient.

Be close to your friends and family: 

A close and strong relationship with your family and friends is necessary. It will help you deal with chondromyxoid fibroma.

 You need practical support, moral support from your friends and relatives. Thus, someone should be there for you to look after the family. Emotional support from them is going to matter most. Thus, a healthy and happy person will ultimately efficiently fight the disease.

Prepare for your appointment

You are likely to start making an appointment with your primary care doctor if some signs and symptoms worry you. Ask for a referral to an experienced specialist if your doctor suspects chondromyxoid fibroma.

A team of specialists typically can treat chondromyxoid fibroma. For instance;

Orthopedic surgeons or orthopedic oncologists who have specialization in operating bone cancers.

Doctors who have a specialization in treating cancers with systemic medications or chemotherapy.

Pathologists diagnose the specific type of cancer by analyzing a tissue.

Rehabilitation specialists who after surgery help in the recovery of a tumor.

What you should expect from your doctor:

You will face several questions from your doctor. Thus, you should be ready to answer these. So, give more time to your doctor to address them. Your doctor may ask;

What signs and symptoms concern you more?

Have your symptoms been occasional or continuous?

When did you start to notice the symptoms?

The severity of your symptoms?

Is there anything that improves your symptoms?

Is there anything that worsens your symptoms?

Do you have any family or personal history of cancer?