Bone Cancer (Osteosarcomas) Treatment in Utah
In the United States, more than 3,200 people each year are diagnosed with primary cancer of the bones and joints. These make up 0.2% of all cancers in this country.
Bone cancer is a sarcoma (type of cancerous tumor) that starts in the bone. Other cancers may affect the bones, including cancers that metastasize, or spread, from other parts of the body, as well as non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and multiple myeloma. The information on this page focuses on cancers that start in the bones (primary bone cancer).
Bone Cancer Symptoms:
Bone cancer symptoms vary from person to person. They also depend on the size and location of the cancer.
If you have symptoms of bone cancer, they may include:
- Pain
- Swelling or tenderness in or near a joint
- Difficulty with normal movement
- Fatigue
- Fever
- Weight loss
- Anemia (low red blood cell count)
- Fractures
Having one or more of these symptoms does not mean you have bone cancer. However, it is important to discuss any symptoms with your doctor, since they may indicate other health problems.
Bone Cancer Treatment Options:
If you are diagnosed with bone cancer, your doctor will discuss the best options to treat it. This depends on several factors, including the
type and stage of the cancer and your general health. Your treatment for bone cancer will be customized to your particular needs.
One or more of the following therapies may be recommended to treat bone cancer or help relieve symptoms:
- Surgery is the main treatment for most bone cancers.
- Chemotherapy works by killing fast-growing cells, including cancer cells.
- Radiation therapy uses focused, high-energy photon beams to destroy cancer cells.
- Proton therapy delivers high radiation doses directly to the liver cancer tumor site, with no damage to nearby healthy tissue.
- Targeted therapy works by stopping or slowing the growth or spread of cancer.