Most often, a person with bone sarcoma receives radiation therapy, which destroys the cancer cells and shrinks the tumor. This allows less-invasive surgery to remove the cancer and save the arm or leg. When a patient has bone cancer that has spread to other parts of the body, a doctor may perform stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT), which uses a series of intensive radiation treatments to control a tumor. Patients who have this type of cancer can also expect pain relief from radiation therapy as part of their supportive care.
Primary bone cancer begins in the bones themselves. The disease is commonly characterized by an aggressive growth of tumor cells. Other forms of bone cancer include Ewing sarcoma, chondrosarcoma, and malignant fibrous histiocytoma. Secondary bone cancer is cancer that originates elsewhere in the body and has spread to the bones. Secondary bone cancer has similar symptoms to primary bone cancer, but is caused by cancer cells that metastasize from other parts of the body.
Osteosarcoma is the most common type of bone cancer in adults. It begins in the cartilage that covers the bone. It most often affects the thighbone, upper leg, and pelvis. It is rare in children and adolescents, but it can occur in adults. Osteosarcoma typically affects older adults. It begins in the cartilage of bones, such as bone, and can spread to other parts of the body.
Bone cancer symptoms vary with stage. Some patients experience pain, swelling, or numbness. Symptoms may come and go or persist for many years. Sometimes, it is discovered incidentally during an imaging study. However, bone cancer may also cause fractures at the site of the tumor. It can also disrupt nerves and blood vessels. Once diagnosed, patients may undergo surgery or chemotherapy. If they don’t respond to chemotherapy, they may need to undergo radiation therapy.
A common type of bone cancer is chordoma, a tumor that starts in the soft tissue surrounding the bone. It is rare in children and occurs more often in men than women. It often grows slowly and does not spread to other parts of the body. If left untreated, however, chordomas can spread to lymph nodes, the lungs, and the liver. In addition, recurrent giant cell bone tumors can spread to the lungs.
The survival rate of patients with malignant bone cancer is based on the stage of the disease and the extent of spread. For chondrosarcoma with no spread, the five-year survival rate is 91%. When the cancer has spread to distant areas, however, the percentage drops to 33%. Fortunately, early detection is the key to improving the outlook. The American Cancer Society estimates a 5-year survival rate of 80% for patients with this type of cancer.
Primary bone cancers are osteosarcoma, sarcoma, and sarcoma. Osteosarcomas are most common in young adults, teenagers, and young adults, and occur more often in men than in women. Osteosarcoma tends to develop in bones of the thighbone, shinbone, and pelvis, though it can also occur in the muscles and fats.
