bone cancer

There are different types of bone cancer.

  • Osteosarcoma is the most common bone cancer. It starts in bone cells that make new bone tissue. It usually forms at the end of long bones, such as the leg bones, but can form in any bone. It’s most common in teenagers and in adults older than 65 years.
  • Malignant fibrous histiocytoma (MFH) of bone is a very rare bone cancer. It’s treated like osteosarcoma.
  • Ewing sarcoma includes several types of bone tumors. Ewing sarcoma tumors usually form in the hip bones, the ribs or in the middle of long bones. The disease occurs most often in teenagers and young adults. Ewing tumors are most common in bone but can also form in soft tissue.

Bone cancer is rare. Most bone tumors are benign (not cancer). Having past treatment with radiation can increase the risk of osteosarcoma.

Signs & Symptoms

Check with your doctor if you have any of these symptoms.

  • Osteosarcoma or MFH:
    • Swelling over a bone or bony part of the body
    • Pain in a bone or joint
    • A bone that breaks for no known reason
  • These and other signs and symptoms may be caused by Ewing sarcoma or by other conditions:
    • Pain and/or swelling, usually in the arms, legs, chest, back, or pelvis
    • A lump (which may feel soft and warm) in the arms, legs, chest, or pelvis
    • Fever for no known reason
    • A bone that breaks for no known reason

Treatment

Your OHC doctor will help you determine the best care plan for you. For localized Osteosarcoma and Malignant Fibrous Histiocytoma of bone:

  • Surgery; combination chemotherapy is usually given before and after surgery
  • Surgery followed by radiation therapy when the tumor cannot be completely removed by surgery

Metastatic Osteosarcoma and Malignant Fibrous Histiocytoma of bone:

  • Combination chemotherapy followed by surgery to remove the primary cancer and the cancer that has spread to the lung

Bone Metastasis or Bone with Lung Metastasis

  • Combination chemotherapy followed by surgery to remove the primary tumor and the cancer that has spread to other parts of the body. More chemotherapy is given after surgery
  • Surgery to remove the primary tumor followed by chemotherapy and surgery to remove cancer that has spread to other parts of the body

Recurrent Osteosarcoma and Malignant Fibrous Histiocytoma of Bone

  • Surgery to remove the tumor with or without chemotherapy
  • Samarium with or without stem cell transplant using the patient’s own stem cells, as palliative treatment to relieve pain and improve the quality of life
  • A clinical trial that checks a sample of the patient’s tumor for certain gene changes. The type of targeted therapy that will be given to the patient depends on the type of gene change
  • A clinical trial of new types of treatment for patients whose cancer cannot be removed by surgery

Localized or metastatic Ewing sarcoma:

  • Radiation therapy uses high-energy X-rays and other types of radiation to kill cancer cells and keep them from growing
  • Chemotherapy uses drugs to strop the growth of cancer cells, either by killing them or stopping them from dividing
  • Surgery

Recurrent Ewing Sarcoma:

  • Combination chemotherapy
  • Radiation therapy to bone tumors, as palliative therapy to relieve symptoms and improve the quality of life
  • Radiation therapy that may be followed by surgery to remove tumors that have spread to the lungs
  • High-dose chemotherapy with stem cell rescue
  • Targeted therapy with a monoclonal antibody