Osteosarcoma, What Is This Disease And How Is It Treated?

Osteosarcoma is a type of bone cancer that grows from cells responsible for bone formation and formation (these cells are called osteoblasts). In fact, it is the most common type of bone cancer.

Although this type of cancer is quite rare, it accounts for as much as 3% of childhood cancers. It usually attacks long bones, such as the leg bones, but can actually develop in any bone.

Osteosarcoma usually occurs in adolescents or children, although it can also occur at any time in life. Treatment and prognosis vary widely depending on the size, location, and extent of the tumor.

The big problem with this type of cancer is that it can metastasize to other organs and can be fatal. Therefore, in this article, we explain everything you need to know about its formation and development.

What is Osteosarcoma?

As we mentioned, osteosarcoma is a malignant tumor that grows from the cells that make up bone. These cells are called osteoblasts.

Osteoblasts are responsible for the growth and continuous renewal of bones. It is for this reason that this cancer is more common in adolescents and children, as this is the stage when these cells are most active.

The knee is the site most often attacked by osteosarcoma. Unfortunately, there is no way to prevent this from happening. Cancer can only be treated if it is diagnosed early, when it has not yet caused serious damage to the area or metastasis.

What symptoms does osteosarcoma cause?

Osteosarcoma presents with very non-specific symptoms that can be confused with other health problems, such as a sports injury. For this reason, it is important to always see your doctor in case of any doubts.

First, osteosarcoma usually causes bone or joint pain. In addition, swelling may appear near the bones. In some cases, it even leads to spontaneous bone injury or fracture.

Usually, this disease affects the bones of the leg or arm because, as we said before, it usually appears in the long bones of the body. When it hurts, exercise can make it worse.

In fact, this pain can occur at night, and it often prevents someone with osteosarcoma from falling asleep. The most obvious symptom in children is that they begin to limp or have difficulty walking.

What are the risk factors for osteosarcoma?

The causes of osteosarcoma are still unknown. However, certain factors have been identified that increase the risk of developing this cancer. Some of them are listed below:

• Being a male teenager.
• Having certain genetic conditions, such as hereditary retinoblastoma or Li-Fraumeni syndrome. Retinoblastoma is a malignant tumor that develops in the retina, while Li-Fraumeni syndrome is a genetic mutation.
• Having been treated with radiotherapy for another cancer.

How is it diagnosed with osteosarcoma and how is it treated?

To diagnose osteosarcoma, a doctor must first take a thorough medical history of the patient and conduct a physical examination. In addition, additional tests, such as x-rays or computed tomography, are usually required .

In some cases, a biopsy is also performed to allow the tumor to be analyzed in a laboratory. This determines the degree of cancer we are dealing with and helps guide treatment. Similarly, other tests are also performed to see if the cancer has metastasized or not.

Treatment of osteosarcoma is complex and often requires surgery. The goal is to eliminate all cancer cells and to avoid disability of the affected area as much as possible. However, in some cases, limb amputation is necessary.

Chemotherapy is also used. However, radiation therapy does not appear to be effective in this type of cancer. Numerous trials and clinical trials are currently underway to find a more effective treatment for osteosarcoma.

To sum up

Osteosarcoma is the most common type of bone cancer and, unfortunately, it most often affects young people. Symptoms are very nonspecific so it is important to remain vigilant in the event of pain or injury and consult your doctor.