At what age does osteosarcoma usually develop?

About half of these are in children and teens. Most osteosarcomas occur in children, teens, and young adults between the ages of 10 and 30. Teens are the most commonly affected age group, but people of any age can develop osteosarcoma. About 1 in 10 osteosarcomas occur in people older than 60.


What age is most likely to get bone cancer?

For example, bone cancer is most frequently diagnosed in children and adolescents (people under age 20), with about one-fourth of cases occurring in this age group.

Who is most likely to get osteosarcoma?

The risk of osteosarcoma is highest for those between the ages of 10 and 30, especially during the teenage growth spurt. This suggests there may be a link between rapid bone growth and risk of tumor formation. The risk goes down in middle age, but rises again in older adults (usually over the age of 60).


What are the warning signs of osteosarcoma?

The first signs of osteosarcoma are pain and swelling in the affected bone, with symptoms often becoming more severe at night.
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Other signs and symptoms of osteosarcoma
  • A bump, depending on where the tumor is located.
  • Redness and warmth at the site of the tumor.
  • Anemia.
  • Fever.
  • Exhaustion.
  • Unexplained weight loss.


Who typically gets osteosarcoma?

Osteosarcoma is a type of bone cancer that usually develops in the osteoblast cells that form bone. It happens most often in children, adolescents, and young adults. Approximately 800 new cases of osteosarcoma are reported each year in the U.S. Of these cases, about 400 are in children and teens.


Orthopedic Oncology Course - Malignant Bone Forming Tumors (Osteosarcoma) - Lecture 4



What are the odds of getting osteosarcoma?

Teens are the most commonly affected age group, but people of any age can develop osteosarcoma. About 1 in 10 osteosarcomas occur in people older than 60. About 2% of childhood cancers are osteosarcomas, but they make up a much smaller percentage of adult cancers.

Where does osteosarcoma usually start?

Osteosarcoma is a type of bone cancer that begins in the cells that form bones. Osteosarcoma is most often found in the long bones — more often the legs, but sometimes the arms — but it can start in any bone. In very rare instances, it occurs in soft tissue outside the bone.

What can be mistaken for osteosarcoma?

Perhaps one of the most difficult diagnoses to miss is that of idiopathic myositis ossificans. In this condition, an individual may present with a rapidly growing painful mass. An X-ray will show rapid bone formation, which can look identical to a high-grade osteosarcoma.


Can osteosarcoma be cured if caught early?

Today, about 3 out of 4 people who have osteosarcoma can be cured if the cancer hasn't spread to other parts of the body. Almost everyone who is treated with limb-sparing surgery ends up with that arm or leg working well. Many people who have osteosarcoma will need physical therapy for several months after surgery.

How fast does osteosarcoma progress?

It develops deep within the bone and becomes progressively more painful as it grows outward and the bone is destroyed from the inside out. The lameness goes from intermittent to constant over 1 to 3 months. Obvious swelling becomes evident as the tumor grows and normal bone is replaced by tumorous bone.

Does osteosarcoma hurt to touch?

Osteosarcomas can cause pain. If there are tumors in the bones of your arm, for example, it may be painful to lift things. If the tumors are in the bones of your legs, it may cause limping. However, osteosarcomas can also be painless.


Does osteosarcoma spread quickly?

Low-grade cancer cells are usually slow-growing and less likely to spread. In high-grade tumours the cells are likely to grow quickly and are more likely to spread. Most osteosarcomas are high-grade, but a type known as parosteal osteosarcoma is usually low-grade.

How can you reduce the risk of osteosarcoma?

While it is always good to maintain a healthy weight and to quit smoking or using tobacco, currently, there are no known lifestyle changes that can prevent osteosarcoma.

What's the survival rate of osteosarcoma?

If osteosarcoma is diagnosed and treated before it has spread outside the area where it started, the general 5-year survival rate for people of all ages is 74%. If the cancer has spread outside of the bones and into surrounding tissues or organs and/or the regional lymph nodes, the 5-year survival rate is 66%.


What does early stage bone cancer feel like?

Bone pain. Pain caused by bone cancer usually begins with a feeling of tenderness in the affected bone. This gradually progresses to a persistent ache or an ache that comes and goes, which continues at night and when resting.

Is bone cancer treatable if caught early?

Bone cancer develops in the skeletal system and destroys tissue. It can spread to distant organs, such as the lungs. The usual treatment for bone cancer is surgery, and it has a good outlook following early diagnosis and management.

Can a blood test detect osteosarcoma?

Blood tests are not needed to diagnose osteosarcoma, but they may be helpful once a diagnosis is made. For example, high levels of chemicals in the blood such as alkaline phosphatase and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) can suggest that the osteosarcoma may be more advanced.


What is osteosarcoma stage1?

Primary bone cancer is categorized into four stages: Stage 1: The tumor is low-grade, and the cancer cells are still localized. Stage 2: The cancer cells are still localized, but the tumor is high-grade. Stage 3: The tumor is high-grade and cancer has spread to other areas within the same bone.

Can osteosarcoma be benign?

Bone sarcoma is a type of tumor that forms in bone tissue. Many of these tumors are benign, meaning they do not contain cancer and do not spread. The most common forms of malignant, or cancerous, bone sarcoma are osteosarcoma, chondrosarcoma, and Ewing sarcoma.

What is the hallmark of osteosarcoma?

Osteosarcoma is thought to arise from primitive mesenchymal bone-forming cells, and its histologic hallmark is the production of malignant osteoid.


What does osteosarcoma feel like in leg?

At first, the pain might not be constant and might be worse at night. The pain often increases with activity and might result in a limp if the tumor is in a leg bone. Swelling in the area is another common symptom, although it might not occur until later.

Can xrays detect osteosarcoma?

Doctors can often recognize a bone tumor such as an osteosarcoma based on plain x-rays2 of the bone. But other imaging tests might be needed as well.

Can osteosarcoma be completely cured?

Patients with low-grade, resectable osteosarcomas can often be cured with surgery alone (without chemo). However, if the tumor removed by surgery is found to be high grade on lab tests, chemo might then be recommended.


Do you need chemo for osteosarcoma?

Chemo is an important part of the treatment for most people with osteosarcoma (although some patients with low-grade osteosarcoma might not need it). Most osteosarcomas don't appear to have spread beyond the main tumor when they are first found.