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Osteosarcoma

Osteosarcoma is the second most common form of malignant bone cancer. Osteosarcoma is normally detected in people between the ages of 10 and 25, but can also occur at other ages. This cancer normally affects the knee (in over 50% of cases), but can occur in any bone in the body. It is a very serious, fatal bone cancer diagnosis.

- Paget's disease and radiation therapy may predispose to osteosarcoma

Osteosarcoma can be diagnosed with blood tests, urine tests, bone scans (Dexa examination), X-ray examination and imaging - and biopsy where necessary. Paget's disease, radiation therapy and sickle cell anemia can all provide the basis for the development of this form of cancer. The form of cancer usually spreads to the lungs, and provides a basis for severe lung cancer.

- The treatment consists of chemotherapy and surgery

Treatment of osteosarcoma is demanding and complex. Among other things, drug treatment, surgery and chemotherapy are used in the treatment of osteosarcoma. Normally, one will first try drug treatment and chemotherapy. Then you will try to operate on the cancerous tumor. Surgeons must be extremely careful when removing cancer, as a wrong cut can lead to cancer cells being left in the area - which in turn can lead to a flourishing of the cancer. Due to great advances in osteosarcoma surgery, one can now save the affected leg or arm - previously, in most cases, the affected area had to be amputated.

- Osteosarcoma has a gloomy prognosis

About 65% of those who undergo chemotherapy survive for 5 years after the diagnosis is given, provided there has been no metastasis (cancer spread) to the lungs. If the toxin destroys all the cancer cells, you have a 90% chance of living for at least 5 years. It's a gloomy and sad forecast.

In the event of deterioration or similar, people should go to check to see if any development or further growth has occurred. This is normally done with systematic blood tests, urine tests, x-rays (see imaging) to estimate any size development or bloom. Every six months or annually, an X-ray may be necessary, but it may be taken less frequently if no further development is seen.

Image: Malignant cancer of the knee - Osteosarcoma

Cancer of the knee: Here we clearly see how the osteosarcoma has infiltrated the bone structure of the knee and caused extensive destruction.

Also read: - You need to know this about bone cancer! (Here you will also find a great overview of benign and malignant forms of bone cancer)