General Information About Bone Cancer
Disease Details and Frequently Asked Questions
Unlike cancers that spread to the bone from other organs, it is a primary malignant tumor that originates directly from the cells within the bone itself (osteoblasts), melting and weakening the bone from the inside and forming an outward-growing mass.
Osteosarcoma occurs as a result of a cellular error during the periods when bones grow fastest (the rapid growth spurt in puberty). Therefore, the vast majority of patients are young people between the ages of 10 and 25.
Ordinary growing pains in youth usually occur in both legs and pass with massage. Bone cancer pain, however, is in a single area (e.g., just above the right knee), is severe enough to wake the patient from sleep at night, does not pass with painkillers, and there is a hard, externally visible/palpable swelling in that area.
More than 80% of osteosarcomas occur around the knee (lower end of the thighbone or upper end of the shinbone) and around the shoulder (upper end of the arm bone).
Initial suspicion begins with the bone appearing melted and moth-eaten on a simple X-ray. A Contrast-Enhanced MRI is taken to see the size of the tumor and its distance from the blood vessels. The definitive diagnosis is made with a 'Core Needle Biopsy' taken from the bone.
In the past, the entire limb used to be cut off (amputated) in bone cancer. However, today, thanks to modern Orthopedic Oncology, the arm/leg is SAVED in more than 90% of patients. First, chemotherapy is given to kill and shrink the tumor. Then, during surgery, only the cancerous bone is excised and removed, and replaced with custom-made Titanium Prostheses (Artificial Bone/Joint), allowing the patient to be discharged walking.
Our health library contents are prepared for informational purposes only and with scientific data available at the time of recording. For all your questions, concerns, diagnosis, or treatment regarding your health, please consult your doctor or a healthcare institution.
