• Soccer: Luis Enrique announces the death of his daughter Xana due to osteosarcoma
  • Condolences, shock for the death of Xana, the daughter of Luis Enrique

Xana , Luis Enrique's youngest daughter, had osteosarcoma , a very rare type of cancer that affects the bones and especially the child and adolescent population. It represents about 3% of tumors that occur at these ages. The average age of diagnosis is at 15 years. Xana was 9.

How does it start?

It begins to develop from osteoblasts , which are cells that favor bone growth. Most osteosarcomas arise from errors in the DNA of bone cells in the process of growth. It usually starts in larger bones, such as the shin , thigh or arm . It also occurs with some frequency in the humerus, the arm bone that is near the shoulder.

Do you have symptoms?

Clearly, the pain in the bone or joint that gets worse over time. Sometimes, it interferes with sleep. A mass may appear in the affected areas, usually in the shoulder or knee. Occasionally, the symptoms may be tenderness , swelling or redness in the area of ​​the tumor, limitations in movement, lameness if it affects the leg and even fractures, since cancer weakens the bone and makes it more vulnerable to rupture.

If the tumor is located in the pelvis or at the base of the spine, the teenager would lose control of the intestines or bladder. It is very rare.

What is the cause?

Although the origin of this disease is still unknown, it is known that in some cases it is hereditary and has to do with at least one gene that is associated with another type of cancer, ocular, which also occurs in children: familial retinoblastoma .

Risk factor's...

Teenagers diagnosed with this disease are usually taller than normal . Rapid bone growth favors the development of this tumor.

Since radiation exposure is another risk factor for mutations in DNA, those who have had radiotherapy due to previous tumors have a higher risk of osteosarcoma.

How is it diagnosed?

It can only be confirmed by biopsy , that is, by taking a small sample of the tissue for analysis in the laboratory. In addition, the doctor will want to have a set of tests such as blood tests, computerized chest scintigraphy (to check if it has spread in the lungs), magnetic resonance imaging , x-rays and positron emission tomography . The more information, the better.

What is the treatment?

Once the biopsy is done and before surgery to remove the tumor, the affected person undergoes chemotherapy sessions to reduce the size of the tumor a little and destroy other cancer cells that may have spread to other areas of the body. After surgery , safeguarding the damaged limb, which rarely needs to be amputated.

Since cancer in children and adolescents is rare, in approximately 60% of cases they receive treatment through a clinical trial , which consists of trying a new therapeutic approach (innovative drugs, combination of medications or different doses).

What prognosis do you have?

It depends on the severity. If it has not spread to the lungs, the long-term survival rate is better, but if there are other parts of the body affected, the prognosis is worse.

Children with osteosarcoma in one arm or leg usually have a better prognosis than those in which the ribs, shoulder blades, spine or bones of the pelvis are affected.

According to the criteria of The Trust Project

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