Five years overall survival in osteosarcoma patients is around 70%, although in patients with metastatic disease it is only 10-30%. The objective of this study was to analyze overall survival and prognostic factors in a group of patients with metastatic osteosarcoma treated with surgical removal of the lung metastases.

Is osteosarcoma a death sentence?

The 5-year survival rate of people with osteosarcoma is 60%. If the cancer is diagnosed at the localized stage, the 5-year survival rate is 74%. If the cancer has spread to surrounding tissues or organs and/or the regional lymph nodes, the 5-year survival rate is 66%.

How many stages does osteosarcoma have?

In most primary bone sarcomas, there are 5 stages: stage 0 (zero) and stages I through IV (1 through 4). The stage provides a common way of describing the cancer, so doctors can work together to plan the best treatments.

Does osteosarcoma hurt?

Pain at the site of the tumor in the bone is the most common symptom of osteosarcoma. The most common sites for these tumors in younger people are around the knee or in the upper arm, but they can occur in other bones as well. At first, the pain might not be constant and might be worse at night.

How aggressive is osteosarcoma?

Osteosarcoma is a disease primarily of adolescents and young adults, although it can occur in older individuals. In older individuals it can frequently be linked to Paget’s disease, fibrous dysplasia or radiation exposure. In younger individuals it is virtually always high grade and is a highly aggressive tumor.

What are The racial predilections of osteosarcoma?

African-American children have a higher risk of developing osteosarcoma than Caucasians. Each year in the United States, about 400 children and teens younger than age 20 are diagnosed.

What does osteosarcoma look like?

The cancer cells in these tumors look like early forms of bone cells that normally help make new bone tissue, but the bone tissue in an osteosarcoma is not as strong as that of normal bones. Most osteosarcomas occur in children and young adults. Teens are the most commonly affected age group, but osteosarcoma can develop at any age.

What is combination therapy for osteosarcoma?

Combination therapy uses more than one type of chemo at a time and is commonly used for the treatment of osteosarcoma. Chemo is critical for treating osteosarcoma. In patients who had their tumor removed by surgery but did not receive chemotherapy, 80% developed new disease in the lungs and other bones.

What is osteosarcoma and what causes it?

What is osteosarcoma? Osteosarcoma is a type of cancer of the bones: Osteosarcoma is the most common type of bone cancer in children and teens. This cancer arises most often in the wide ends of long bones, such as the femur and tibia in the upper and lower leg, and the humerus in the upper arm.