Osteosarcoma is a form of bone cancer that most often affects children and young adults. This eMedTV segment offers an overview of osteosarcoma, including information about its symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment.
The exact causes of osteosarcoma have not yet been identified. However, as this eMedTV article explains, researchers have found certain risk factors for osteosarcoma, which include such things as having undergone radiotherapy or chemotherapy.
Osteosarcoma symptoms may include pain, broken bones, fatigue, fever, weight loss, and anemia. This eMedTV article describes symptoms often associated with osteosarcoma, which may also include swelling, tenderness, or stiffness in the affected area.
To make an osteosarcoma diagnosis, the doctor will usually perform a physical exam and order certain tests. This eMedTV Web page covers the steps involved in diagnosing osteosarcoma, which may involve blood tests, bone scans, and other tests.
When it comes to osteosarcoma, stages are not used to express the extent of the cancer. As this eMedTV article explains, in the place of using osteosarcoma staging, most cases of the cancer are classified as being localized, metastatic, or recurrent.
For people with osteosarcoma, treatment options may include surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy. This eMedTV segment reviews these osteosarcoma treatment options and discusses second opinions, side effects, and follow-up care.
Because there is no staging system for osteosarcoma, this eMedTV Web page does not break down osteosarcoma treatment by stage. Instead, this article explains how the disease is classified and explores the corresponding treatment options.
Factors that affect the prognosis for osteosarcoma patients include the size and location of the cancer. This eMedTV resource discusses other factors that may affect an osteosarcoma prognosis (such as the patient's age and general health).
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