According to 2010 information from the American Cancer Society, doctors diagnose about 900 cases of osteosarcoma in the United States each year . The most common type of bone cancer, osteosarcoma affects the bones in the upper arm, shin and thigh, according to MedlinePlus. Some osteosarcoma patients may experience complications that affect their health.
Movement Problems
Since osteosarcoma affects the bones, the damage from the tumors can impair a patient's movement. For example, MedlinePlus points out that patients with a tumor on the bones in their leg may limp. Some patients can have a limitation of movement such as problems walking. If a patient has an osteosarcoma tumor on the bones in his arm, he may experience pain when lifting an object. Bone pain can occur, which can affects mobility. Cedars-Sinai explains that this pain becomes worse with exercise, and pain medication does not alleviate the discomfort. The tumors may weaken the bones, resulting in bone fractures.
Loss of a Limb
If the cancer has spread to the blood vessels or nerves, Cedars-Sinai notes that the doctor may remove the affected limb. In these cases, the a patient needs to use an artificial limb. Besides learning how to use the artificial leg or arm, patients undergo different rehabilitation: social rehabilitation and psychological rehabilitation. These types of rehabilitation help patients deal with emotional issues that arise with amputation such as insecurity.
Metastasis
Cedars-Sinai points out that if the cancer does not spread, the survival rate for osteosarcoma is between 60 and 80 percent. But some patients may have metastases, in which the cancer has spread elsewhere in the body. For example, the osteosarcoma may spread to other bones in the body. MedlinePlus notes that patients have a risk of the osteosarcoma spreading to the lungs.
Chemotherapy Side Effects
MedlinePlus explains that possible complications of osteosarcoma are the side effects of the chemotherapy treatment. For example, Stanford Cancer Center points out that chemotherapy drugs used for bone cancers can result in a decrease in blood cell count or damage to the kidney or liver. Some patients may develop mouth ulcers, which are sores that form around the mouth. Skin rashes may occur. Other patients may have seizures in which the electrical activity in the brain becomes disrupted. Other chemotherapy side effects that osteosarcoma patients may have include nausea, vomiting, reversible hair loss and headaches.
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