Osteosarcoma

Osteosarcoma is a kind of bone cancer that happens most often to adolescents whose bones are growing quickly. It usually affects the ends of the long bones of the legs, particularly the ends of the bones that meet at the knee. Osteosarcoma cancer may also affect the jawbone.

Osteosarcoma also affects younger children and older adults. Osteosarcoma cancers may rarely form on the spine or in soft tissues or organs in the abdomen or chest.

Osteosarcoma symptoms

Osteosarcoma symptoms include bone pain in the area where the cancer cells are located. Pain may come and go in the beginning and may be worse at night. Osteosarcoma symptoms may also include:

• Swelling over a bone or bony part of the body
• Bones that break without a clear cause

If you or your child notice bone pain, make an appointment to see your doctor right away.

Risk factors for osteosarcoma

Most people who get osteosarcoma are children, teens and young adults. But it can affect people in any age group.

Some risk factors for osteosarcoma include:

• Being between 10 and 30 years old
• Being a child or teenager who is tall for their age
• Having some kinds of gene mutations
• Being male
• Being African American or Hispanic

If you’ve had radiation therapy or chemotherapy for cancer in the past, you’re also at an increased risk for osteosarcoma.

Diagnosis of osteosarcoma

When you see your doctor, they’ll take a full medical history and perform a physical exam. They may also order imaging tests to help find any bone tumors or identify whether cancer cells have spread to other parts of your body. Some of the tests they’ll use are:

• X-rays
• Bone scan
• CT, MRI or PET scans

If any tumors are found, they’ll need to be biopsied (have tissue samples taken) so the tissue can be examined to see whether it’s cancerous.

Osteosarcoma treatment options

Surgery, radiation therapy and chemotherapy are the most common osteosarcoma treatments. Your doctor and other members of your care team will discuss your options with you to help you choose the best treatment options.

Sometimes chemotherapy is recommended before surgery to shrink the tumor and make it easier to remove without removing too much healthy tissue.

Can osteosarcoma be completely cured?

Your osteosarcoma treatment and osteosarcoma prognosis depend on the facts about you and your cancer including:

• Type of tumor (based on microscopic examination)
• Your age, gender and weight at diagnosis
• Location and size of your tumor
• Whether you’ve had previous treatment for a different cancer
• Whether cancer cells have spread to other parts of your body
• Whether you have certain genetic diseases or conditions

Since osteosarcoma can come back after a time, part of your treatment will include being screened at regular intervals to be sure your cancer hasn’t returned.

Related treatment for osteosarcoma

Depending on your needs, your treatment plan may also include:

• Plastic surgery to repair or replace any tissue that was removed
• Physical therapy or occupational therapy
• Help to relearn how to move and use the part of your body that was treated. For example, if your jawbone was affected, you may need speech therapy for help with speech and swallowing.