Bone Cancer Surgery

The most common treatment for bone cancer is bone cancer surgery, whether total amputation of a limb or removing the cancerous portion of bone. Chemotherapy has made limb-sparing bone cancer surgery possible in many cases. Researchers have not found a difference (in terms of survival) between patients who have limb-sparing bone cancer surgery versus patients who have bone cancer surgery with amputation.

Bone Cancer Treatments

Bone Cancer Surgery: An Overview

Bone cancer surgery is the most common bone cancer treatment. Although amputation of a limb is sometimes necessary, chemotherapy has made limb-sparing bone cancer surgery possible in many cases. When possible, surgeons avoid amputation by removing only the cancerous section of the bone and replacing it with an artificial device called a prosthesis or with bone from another place in the body. In some cases, all or part of an arm or leg may have to be removed (amputated) to make sure that all of the cancer is taken out. If the cancer has spread to the lymph nodes, the lymph nodes will also be removed (this is called lymph node dissection).

Bone Cancer Surgery: Limb-Sparing Surgery Versus Amputation

In patients with osteosarcoma that has not spread beyond the bone, researchers have not found a difference (in terms of survival) in patients who have limb-sparing bone cancer surgery or patients who have bone cancer surgery with amputation.