Osteosarcoma

Osteosarcoma is a type of cancer that affects the bones. It usually starts in the long bones of the arms and legs, but it can develop in any bone in the body. Think of it like this: your bones are made of special cells, and osteosarcoma begins when these bone-forming cells grow out of control.

This type of cancer is most common in teenagers and young adults, but it can also happen in younger children or older adults. It's important to remember that osteosarcoma can appear in any bone, though it's more often seen in the long bones of the limbs. In very rare cases, it can start in soft tissues around the bones rather than within the bone itself.

Recent improvements in how osteosarcoma is treated have led to better outcomes for people with this cancer. However, the powerful treatments used to fight osteosarcoma can sometimes have long-term side effects, even after the cancer is under control. Doctors often recommend ongoing checkups and monitoring for these side effects throughout a person's life. This helps make sure any potential problems are caught early and treated properly.

Osteosarcoma, a type of bone cancer, usually begins in a bone. It most commonly develops in the long bones of the arms and legs. One of the first signs is pain in the bone or a joint. This pain might be intermittent at first, and easily mistaken for normal growing pains in children. Another symptom is pain in a bone that breaks unexpectedly, with no obvious cause. Swelling near a bone is also a possible sign. If you or your child have any of these symptoms, or other persistent concerns, it's important to see a doctor. Osteosarcoma symptoms can be similar to those of more common conditions like sports injuries. Therefore, your doctor might first investigate and rule out those possibilities.

If you or your child have symptoms that keep coming back and worry you, see a doctor. Osteosarcoma symptoms can be similar to other, more common problems, like injuries from playing sports. A doctor will likely check for those kinds of problems first.

Sign up for free and get a detailed guide on how to manage cancer. This guide will include helpful advice on getting a second medical opinion. You can easily stop receiving these emails any time.

Your in-depth cancer management guide will be sent to your email soon.

Osteosarcoma is a type of bone cancer, but scientists don't fully understand what causes it.

Essentially, osteosarcoma happens when something goes wrong with the instructions inside bone cells. Imagine your cells have a set of instructions, like a recipe, for how to grow and multiply. These instructions are stored in the cell's DNA, and the DNA is made up of genes.

In healthy cells, these instructions tell the cells to grow and divide at a controlled pace, and to die at a specific point in time. It's like a well-timed recipe with clear start and finish lines.

But in osteosarcoma, there are changes in the DNA instructions. These changes cause the cells to follow different instructions. Instead of growing and dying normally, the cancer cells are told to multiply quickly and keep living, even when healthy cells would die. This rapid, uncontrolled growth leads to an excess of cells.

These extra cells can clump together and form a mass called a tumor. This tumor can grow larger, pushing into and damaging surrounding healthy tissues. Over time, some of these cancer cells can break off and travel to other parts of the body. This spread of cancer cells is called metastasis.

Osteosarcoma, a type of bone cancer, often appears without any clear reason. While many cases happen randomly, certain factors can slightly increase the chance of developing this cancer.

These risk factors include:

• Inherited conditions: Some families have a higher tendency to develop certain cancers. These inherited conditions, like retinoblastoma (eye cancer), Bloom syndrome (a genetic disorder affecting growth and development), Li-Fraumeni syndrome (a genetic disorder linked to several types of cancer), Rothmund-Thomson syndrome (a rare genetic disorder causing skin and bone problems), and Werner syndrome (a rare genetic disorder similar to premature aging), can make a person more prone to osteosarcoma. These conditions mean there's a higher chance of developing cancer in general, not just osteosarcoma.

• Existing bone problems: Some pre-existing bone conditions, such as Paget's disease (a condition where bones become weak and deformed) and fibrous dysplasia (a disorder that causes abnormal bone growth), can make osteosarcoma more likely. These problems can make the bones more vulnerable to cancer development.

• Past cancer treatments: Having received radiation therapy or chemotherapy for another type of cancer may slightly increase the risk of developing osteosarcoma later in life. These treatments can weaken the body's defenses, possibly making it more susceptible to the development of new cancers.

Unfortunately, there's no way to prevent osteosarcoma. While these risk factors can increase the chance of getting the disease, they don't guarantee that someone will develop it.

Osteosarcoma, a type of bone cancer, can be challenging to treat because it sometimes spreads to other parts of the body. This spread, called metastasis, often happens to the lungs, the same bone where the cancer started, or a different bone. This makes treatment and recovery more difficult.

Doctors try to remove the cancer while leaving as much of the affected limb (like an arm or leg) as possible. However, sometimes removing the entire tumor requires taking part of the limb. This can mean needing a prosthetic limb. Learning to use a prosthesis takes time, practice, and patience. Physical therapists and other specialists can help with this adjustment.

Treating osteosarcoma often involves strong medicines and therapies that can cause various side effects, both immediately and later on. These side effects can range from fatigue to other health issues. Your medical team can provide guidance and support to manage these side effects during treatment. They can also discuss potential long-term side effects that might appear after treatment is finished. This proactive approach helps you and your family prepare for what might come.

Diagnosing osteosarcoma often starts with a physical exam. Doctors will check for any signs of the cancer, like pain or swelling. Based on what they find, they might order more tests to pinpoint the problem.

These tests create pictures of the inside of the body, helping doctors see where the osteosarcoma is located and how big it is. Common imaging tests include:

• X-rays: These are simple pictures that show bones.
• MRIs (Magnetic Resonance Imaging): These detailed pictures can show soft tissues as well as bones.
• CT scans (Computed Tomography): These scans create cross-sectional images of the body.
• Bone scans: These scans highlight areas of bone activity, which can be helpful in identifying cancer.
• PET scans (Positron Emission Tomography): These scans use radioactive material to show areas of high metabolic activity, which can sometimes indicate cancer.

To confirm the diagnosis and learn more about the cancer, a small piece of tissue (a biopsy) needs to be removed and sent to a lab.

A biopsy can be done in a few ways:

• Needle biopsy: A thin needle is inserted through the skin to collect a tissue sample.
• Surgical biopsy: In some cases, a small surgical procedure is needed to remove a tissue sample.

The lab will examine the tissue sample to see if it's cancerous and, if so, what type of cancer it is. Other special tests may be done to learn more details about the cancer cells.

The information from all these tests helps the medical team create a treatment plan. A crucial part of this is carefully planning the biopsy procedure. The team needs to consider how the biopsy will affect future surgery to remove the cancer.

Before undergoing any biopsy, talk to your doctor about getting a referral to a team of specialists experienced in treating osteosarcoma. This is important to ensure you get the best possible care.

Mayo Clinic has a team of experts who can help with osteosarcoma care. Contact them for information or assistance.

Osteosarcoma Treatment: Understanding the Options

Osteosarcoma, a type of bone cancer, is most often treated with surgery and chemotherapy. Rarely, radiation therapy might be considered if surgery isn't a possible option.

Surgery:

The goal of surgery is to remove all the cancer. Doctors carefully plan the surgery to minimize its impact on daily life, considering factors like the cancer's size and location. There are several types of surgery for osteosarcoma:

• Limb-Sparing Surgery: This is the preferred method whenever possible. The surgeon tries to remove only the cancer, preserving the limb (arm or leg). The decision depends on the cancer's extent and how much surrounding muscle and tissue needs to be removed. If part of the bone needs to be removed, the surgeon will rebuild it using metal implants or bone grafts. The specific method depends on the individual case.

• Amputation: In some cases, removing the entire affected limb (arm or leg) might be necessary to completely eliminate the cancer. A prosthetic limb (artificial limb) can be fitted after the surgery.

• Rotationplasty: This is an option for osteosarcoma around the knee. The surgeon removes the cancer, the knee joint, and surrounding tissue. The foot and ankle are then rotated and attached to the remaining part of the leg, effectively creating a new knee joint. A prosthesis is used for the lower leg and foot. This procedure can be beneficial for growing children, enabling them to participate in physical activities.

Chemotherapy:

Chemotherapy uses powerful drugs to kill cancer cells. For osteosarcoma, chemotherapy is often used before surgery to shrink the tumor, making it easier to remove. It may also be used after surgery to kill any remaining cancer cells. Chemotherapy can also help manage pain and slow cancer growth if it returns or spreads.

Radiation Therapy:

Radiation therapy uses high-energy beams (like X-rays) to target and destroy cancer cells. It's less common than surgery or chemotherapy for osteosarcoma. Doctors might suggest radiation as an alternative to surgery if surgery can't completely remove the cancer.

Clinical Trials:

Clinical trials test new treatments. These studies offer the chance to try the latest approaches, though potential side effects may not be fully understood. Talk to your healthcare team about possible participation in clinical trials.

Coping with a Cancer Diagnosis:

A diagnosis of osteosarcoma can be overwhelming. Here are some suggestions for coping:

• Learn about the condition and treatment options: Discussing the disease and treatment options with your doctor can help you feel more in control. If you have a child with cancer, work with the medical team to find ways to communicate effectively with your child.

• Maintain strong relationships: Lean on friends and family for support, and don't hesitate to ask for help with daily tasks.

• Seek professional support: Talking to a counselor, social worker, psychologist, or other mental health professional can be very helpful. Ask your medical team about available support services for you and your child. Many cancer organizations (like the American Cancer Society) also offer support resources.

Dealing with an osteosarcoma diagnosis can be really tough. It's okay to feel overwhelmed. But there are ways to manage the stress and uncertainty that come with cancer. Here are some helpful steps:

Understanding Osteosarcoma: Learning about osteosarcoma is important for making decisions about your or your child's care. Talk to your doctor or healthcare provider about the cancer, including different treatment options. The more you understand, the more confident you'll feel about making choices. If your child has cancer, work with the healthcare team to find ways to talk about it with your child in a way they can understand. This open communication is crucial.

Building Support: Strong relationships with friends and family are vital during this time. They can provide practical support, like helping with household tasks if you need to be at the hospital, or emotional support when you feel overwhelmed. Don't hesitate to ask for help.

Seeking Mental Health Support: Talking to a counselor, social worker, psychologist, or other mental health professional can also be very helpful. These professionals can provide support for both you and your child. Ask your healthcare team about mental health resources, or look online for cancer support organizations like the American Cancer Society. They often have lists of support services.

In short: It's okay to feel stressed when facing a diagnosis of osteosarcoma. Learning about the cancer, building a strong support system, and seeking mental health support are key steps to coping with this challenging time. Don't be afraid to ask for help, and remember that you're not alone.