Learning About Bone Sarcomas

What is a bone sarcoma?

A bone sarcoma is a kind of tumor—a growth of abnormal cells in the bones. When the tumor grows out of control and destroys nearby tissue or spreads to other parts of the body, it's called malignant. That means it's a type of cancer.

Sarcoma is another name for a malignant bone tumor.

Bone cancer can spread to other parts of the body, like the lungs or lymph nodes.

What are some common types of bone sarcomas?

The most common types of bone sarcomas include:

Osteosarcoma.

This tumor often appears in the wider ends of bones, in the knee, shoulder, and sometimes the pelvis.

Chondrosarcoma.

This is a cancer of the cartilage. It's often found in the pelvis, upper leg, shoulder, and long bone shafts (the middle of bones).

There are other, less common bone tumors as well.

What are the symptoms?

You may feel pain near the tumor.

You may feel swelling or a lump over the bone. If your tumor is near a joint, like your shoulder, hip, or knee, you may not be able to move your arm or leg freely.

Bone tumors can weaken your bones. Sometimes bones with tumors can break.

How are they diagnosed?

Your doctor will ask you about your symptoms and your past health. He or she will also examine you. If your doctor can feel a bone tumor or if you have other symptoms, you will get some tests. The tests can find out if it's cancer. They can also help your doctor figure out the best treatment for the tumor.

Your doctor may also find a tumor when taking X-rays or images for another problem.

• You may have one or more imaging tests to get a better look at the tumor. These may include:
  • X-rays.
  • CT scan.
  • MRI scan.
  • PET scan.
  • Bone or other nuclear scan.
• You may need blood tests and other lab work. This might include genetic testing.
• You may need a biopsy so a sample of the tumor can be looked at under a microscope. This sample may also be used to test for substances in your body that might indicate cancer (biomarkers), which will help with planning treatment.
• Doctors may also examine other parts of your body to see if the tumor has spread.

The doctor may talk to you about what "stage" your cancer is. The stage refers to how large the tumor is and how far it has spread. It also includes the tumor grade, which describes what the cancer cells look like and how likely they are to grow and spread.

These can help the doctor find out what type of treatment you may need. And it may help to find a clinical trial that has treatments for your type of cancer.

How is it treated?

Treatment for bone cancer is based on the stage of the cancer and other things, such as your overall health. The main treatments include:

Surgery.

You may need surgery to remove cancer from the bone or to remove part of the bone. A bone graft or metal part may be used to replace the bone that was removed. If cancer is found in an arm or a leg, the limb can usually be saved.

Chemotherapy.

These medicines kill fast-growing cells, including cancer cells and some normal cells.

Radiation therapy.

This uses high-dose X-rays to destroy cancer cells and shrink tumors. It may be used along with surgery or after surgery.

For certain types of bone tumors, other treatments may be used, such as a stem cell transplant, targeted therapy, or immunotherapy.

Your doctor will talk with you about your options and then make a treatment plan.

What are some other things to think about?

• Some tumors are aggressive and need treatment right away. But most cancer grows slowly enough that you can take a little time to find out more about your cancer as you decide about treatment.
• Think about getting a second opinion from another doctor. Before you start major treatment, it's a good idea to check with another doctor about the type of cancer you have and the stage of your cancer. Your doctor or insurance company can recommend someone for a second opinion.
• Ask any questions you might have. You can talk to your doctor, nurses, counselors, and other advisors.
• Talk to family, friends, and supporters. Get the kinds of help you need.