Osteosarcoma is a form of bone cancer that predominantly affects children and teenagers. Osteosarcoma is the most common type of bone cancer and is the sixth most common type of cancer in children, according to Kids Health. Doctors use surgery and chemotherapy to treat this form of cancer.
Identification
Osteosarcoma occurs when errors occur in the deoxyribonucleic acid, or DNA, of bones during times of rapid bone growth during the teenage years. The DNA contains genetic information that controls bone growth. Osteosarcoma usually develops in the ends of long bones in the legs or arms or in other areas where bones grow rapidly, according to the American Cancer Society.
Risk Factors
The disease affects more boys than girls and can run in families. Children who are taller than average may be at increased risk. Kids Health reports that children who inherit rare cancer syndromes, such as retinoblastoma or Li-Fraumeni syndrome, are at higher risk for developing osteosarcoma. Children who have had radiation treatment for cancer in the past may also have an increased chance of developing the disease.
Symptoms
Osteosarcoma symptoms may begin following a growth spurt. Medline Plus reports that the average age of diagnosis is 15. Swelling, pain and tenderness in the leg or arm may occur if your child has osteosarcoma. You may notice a lump near your child's shoulder or below or above the knee. Pain may precede the swelling and pain may be so intense that it wakes your child. Other symptoms include difficulty moving the affected bone, limping or trouble lifting items if the tumor is in the arm. Fractures can occur because the tumor weakens the bone.
Diagnosis
Your child's doctor will examine the affected limb and ask questions about your teenager's symptoms. Doctors use X-rays and bone, magnetic resonance imaging and computerized tomography scans to determine if there is a change in the bone that could indicate the presence of a tumor. Your child's doctor may suggest a needle biopsy or open bone biopsy if he suspects that your child has osteosarcoma. While imaging tests may suggest cancer, undergoing a biopsy is the only way to determine if the tumor is actually cancerous, according to the American Cancer Society.
Treatment
Doctors try to save the affected limb when removing the tumor. Undergoing chemotherapy before surgery can be helpful because the chemotherapy drugs shrink the tumor, reducing the amount of bone and muscle that must be removed. Surgeons use bone grafts or a metal prosthesis to fill gaps in the bone due to tumor removal. Amputation may be necessary if the cancer spreads to the nerves and blood vessels surrounding the tumor, according to Kids Health. Your child's doctor may recommend chemotherapy after surgery to kill any lingering cancer cells.
