How long do you live after being diagnosed with osteosarcoma?
Osteosarcoma. Around 40 out of 100 people (around 40%) survive their cancer for 5 years or more after diagnosis.
What can osteosarcoma be mistaken for?
Osteosarcoma, a dangerous but common form of bone cancer which mostly affects children and young adults, is often being misdiagnosed by GPs as growing pains or muscle strains, according to the Bone Cancer Research Trust (BCRT).
Does osteosarcoma pain come and go?
This pain may initially come and go, and then gradually become more severe and constant especially at night. There may also be swelling around the affected bone.
Does bone cancer make you feel ill?
Rarely, people with a bone sarcoma may have symptoms such as fever, generally feeling unwell, weight loss, and anemia, which is a low level of red blood cells.
What happens if osteosarcoma is left untreated?
If left untreated, primary bone cancer can spread to other parts of the body. Primary bone cancer is also known as bone sarcoma. Secondary (metastatic) bone cancer means that the cancer started in another part of the body, such as the breast or lung, and has spread to the bones.
How do you rule out osteosarcoma?
A bone scan is a way to find out whether or not osteosarcoma may have spread to other bones beyond the place it started. Biopsy. A biopsy is the removal of a small amount of tissue for examination under a microscope. Other tests can suggest that a tumor is present, but only a biopsy can make a definitive diagnosis.
How fast does osteosarcoma grow?
The vast majority of osteosarcomas are so-called “random cases”, where no specific causes or predisposing risk factors can be identified. In young people, the development of the tumour appears to be in some way related to periods in life with rapid bone growth, hence the average for tumour development is 14-16 years.
Does osteosarcoma show up on xray?
The doctor will take an x-ray of the area where there is a lump or swelling. Osteosarcoma usually shows certain common features on an x-ray. Its appearance on an x-ray can lead to suspicion that an osteosarcoma may be present. Computed tomography (CT or CAT) scan.
What does bone pain feel like?
What is bone pain? Bone pain is extreme tenderness, aching, or other discomfort in one or more bones. It differs from muscle and joint pain because it’s present whether you’re moving or not. The pain is commonly linked to diseases that affect the normal function or structure of the bone.
Why is osteosarcoma pain worse at night?
There is less inflammation, less healing, so the damage to bone due to the above conditions accelerates in the night, with pain as the side-effect. Swelling due to inactivity: Synovial fluid is a liquid present in all bone joints of the body that helps in lubricating movement of the joints.
What symptoms do you get with bone cancer?
Signs and symptoms of bone cancer
- persistent bone pain that gets worse over time and continues into the night.
- swelling and redness (inflammation) over a bone, which can make movement difficult if the affected bone is near a joint.
- a noticeable lump over a bone.
- a weak bone that breaks (fractures) more easily than normal.
What are the signs and symptoms of osteosarcoma?
Signs and symptoms. Pain in the affected bone is the most common symptom. This pain may initially come and go, and then gradually become more severe and constant especially at night. There may also be swelling around the affected bone.
How often do children get osteosarcoma in the UK?
Osteosarcoma is a type of bone cancer. About 30 children in the UK develop osteosarcomas each year. These tumours occur more commonly in older children and teenagers and are very rarely seen in children under five. More children than ever are surviving childhood cancer. There are new and better drugs and treatments.
When to see a doctor for osteosarcoma?
These symptoms are less common in adults, so they should be a sign to see a doctor even sooner. Although osteosarcoma might weaken the bone it develops in, fractures (breaks) are not common.
Are there any bones that break from osteosarcoma?
Although osteosarcoma might weaken the bone it develops in, fractures (breaks) are not common. Exceptions are rare telangiectatic osteosarcomas, which tend to weaken bones more than other forms of osteosarcoma and are more likely to cause breaks at the tumor site.