Osteosarcoma Treatment

Osteosarcoma treatment options can include surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, or a combination of treatments. For most patients with localized osteosarcoma, treatment will involve surgery to remove the tumor. When chemotherapy is used to treat osteosarcoma, it may be given before or after surgery. In cases where radiation therapy is used in the treatment of osteosarcoma, it is usually administered from a machine (known as external radiation).

 

Osteosarcoma Treatment: An Overview

Osteosarcoma treatment options vary based on:
 
  • Whether the cancer is localized, metastatic, or recurrent (see Osteosarcoma Stages)
  • Where the tumor is found
  • The patient's age and general health.
     
In general, osteosarcoma treatment options can include:
 
  • Surgery
  • Radiation therapy
  • Chemotherapy.
     
Patients should work with their doctors to develop a treatment plan that meets their medical needs and personal values. Choosing the most appropriate osteosarcoma treatment is a decision that ideally involves the patient, the family, and the healthcare team.
 

Osteosarcoma Treatment: Remembering Questions and Answers

Many people with the cancer want to take an active part in making decisions about their medical care and their osteosarcoma treatment. However, the shock and stress that often accompany an osteosarcoma diagnosis can make it hard to think of everything to ask the doctor. Some patients find that it is helpful to make a list of osteosarcoma questions before their appointment.
 

Healthcare Providers Involved in Osteosarcoma Treatment

There are usually several healthcare providers involved in a patient's osteosarcoma treatment. The doctor may refer patients to doctors who specialize in treating osteosarcoma, or patients may ask for a referral. Specialists who treat osteosarcoma include:
 
  • Orthopedic surgeons
  • Orthopedic oncologists
  • Medical oncologists
  • Radiation oncologists.
     
(Osteosarcoma Treatment Continued: Page 2)
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Written by/reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD