Osteosarcoma is a relatively rare type of cancer with around 800 to 900 new cases reported in the United States each year. Children and young adults between 10 and 30 years of age are the most commonly affected group.
The bones most likely to be affected by osteosarcoma are:
- the shinbone, or tibia, located below the knee
- the thighbone, or femur, situated above the knee
- the upper arm bone, or humerus, below the shoulder
Osteosarcoma is a rare type of bone cancer in children and usually appears in early adolescence, during growth spurts. Osteosarcoma is slightly more common in African-Americans than in others.
What are the symptoms?
The symptoms of osteosarcoma vary from person-to-person and can differ, depending on where the tumor is growing.
Typical symptoms include:
- pain in the bones during movement or rest
- bone fractures
- redness and swelling
- limping due to pain and swelling
- reduced mobility in the joints
Osteosarcoma causes pain that can be a dull, aching sensation or so intense it interferes with sleep. People often mistake these pains for growing pains.
A person should see a doctor if they experience:
- bone pain, particularly if it continues after growth spurts or interferes with daily life
- swelling of an arm or leg
- muscles that look smaller in one arm or leg compared to the other
There are several ways a doctor may diagnose osteosarcoma. These include:
- Asking about symptoms and medical history to see if any risk factors make osteosarcoma more likely.
- A physical examination to see if there are any visible signs, such as swelling and redness.
- A blood test to check for indications that tumors may be growing.
If a doctor suspects that osteosarcoma is causing a person’s symptoms, they may recommend further tests. These include:
- X-ray: This allows doctors to see detailed images of tissue, such as bone.
- CT scan: This is imaging that enables doctors to get a more precise look at the bones and organs.
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI): This uses a combination of sound waves and powerful magnets to produce detailed images of internal body parts.
- Positron emission tomography (PET) scan: This imaging test uses a dye and shows how well the organs are functioning. It is often used to help doctors detect cancer.
- Bone scan: A bone scan is used to see if there are any abnormalities in a person’s bones. It is also known as a radionuclide scan, scintigram, or nuclear medicine test.
- Biopsy: To perform a biopsy a doctor will remove a tissue sample from a person’s bone, which they then send to a lab for testing.
If osteosarcoma is present it will be classified in one of two ways:
1. Localized: Where doctors find cancer in one area only, such as the bone where it first developed.
2. Metastatic: Where cancer has spread to other areas of the body.
The stage the cancer is at determines how much disease is present in the body. The Musculoskeletal Tumor Society Staging System and the American Joint Commission on Cancer TNM system provide details of what each stage means.
It is possible for bone cancer to recur after treatment, and further scans and X-rays will be necessary to check that no new tumors are growing.
There are no guarantees that chemotherapy and surgery will cure cancer. If these treatments fail, amputation may be necessary to stop the cancerous cells from spreading elsewhere.
Chemotherapy is an intense treatment and can cause unpleasant side effects, including:
- nausea
- pain
- vomiting
- tiredness and weakness
- loss of hair
- constipation or diarrhea
- recurrent infections
- fluid retention
- anemia or low red blood cell count
Outlook and takeaway
The prognosis for people with osteosarcoma is dependent on several factors, including:
- the location of the tumor
- how advanced cancer is and how early it is found
- whether cancer has spread to other parts of the body
- the age of the person diagnosed
Some 3 out of 4 people make a full recovery from osteosarcoma if their cancer has not spread.
The survival rate for people whose tumors have spread elsewhere is around 30 percent.
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