What is Osteosarcoma?

As written in an article by Bethany Cadman that was reviewed by Christina Chun, MPH, osteosarcoma is a type of bone cancer.  Symptoms that include pain and swelling accompany this condition.  It is not known why some people develop osteosarcoma, but the outlook is more favorable when the tumor has not spread.

This is a fairly rare type of cancer that affects about 800 to 900 people with new cases in the U.S. each year.  The most commonly affected groups are children and young adults between the ages of 10 and 30.  The most likely bones to be affected are the shinbone, or tibia, located below the knee, the thighbone, or femur, situated above the knee and the upper arm bone, or humerus, below the shoulder.  The condition is slightly more common in African-Americans and is a rare type of bone cancer in children that usually appears in early adolescence, during their growth spurts.

Some typical symptoms include pain in the bones during movement or rest, bone fractures, redness and swelling, limping due to pain and swelling and reduced

 mobility in the joints.  The pain can be a dull, achy feeling or so intense it interferes with sleep.  Anyone experiencing bone pain, swelling of an arm or leg or muscles that look smaller in one arm or leg than the other, should see a doctor for diagnosis.

Some of the risk factors as genetics, such as the mutation of the p53 gene, and to the retinoblastoma gene that is linked to eye cancer in children.  Any previous radiation therapy in the past may cause

a higher risk of developing osteosarcoma.  Another factor could be when the bones enlarge quickly due to growth spurts and could leave them more susceptible to tumors.

If osteosarcoma is suspected tests might include X-ray, CT scan, Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), positron emission tomography (PET) scan, bone scan or biopsy that can be classed either localized or metastatic.  Most people diagnosed with this condition are likely to undergo chemotherapy treatment.

Some complications are the bone cancer might recur after treatment, needing further scans and X-rays to be necessary for possible new tumor growth.  As most know chemotherapy is an in

tense treatment that can cause side effects such as nausea, pain, vomiting, tiredness, loss of hair, weakness, constipation, diarrhea, recurrent infections, fluid retention, anemia or low red blood cell count.

The prognosis for those diagnosed with osteosarcoma depends upon factors such as location of the tumor, how advanced and how early it is found, if the cancer has spread elsewhere and the age of the person diagnosed.  According to the traditional medical experts, about 3 out of 4 people make a full recovery if their cancer has not already spread.  Survival rate for those where it has spread is around 30%.

The key is to see a doctor and have this disease diagnosed early if you experience any of the above symptoms, not caused from any other ailment.

Dr Fredda Branyon