Bone cancer typically originates in the long bones of the arms and legs. Several types of bone cancer exist and can affect children and adults. Treatments will depend on various individual factors.
Determining Treatment
Your doctor will determine the most appropriate treatments based on the type and stage of your bone cancer, your age, your general health and your personal preferences.
Surgery
Surgical options depend on the location of the cancer. If the cancer affects a limb, the surgeon might or might not be able to spare it. If the cancer affects another type of bone, the surgeon might remove it completely and use bone from another part of the body or a special prosthesis to replace it.
Radiation
Radiation therapy aims to kill the cancerous bone cells. Your doctor might use it before surgery to shrink the cancerous area before surgery, after surgery to kill any remaining cells, for inoperable tumors, or to relieve pain in late-stage bone cancer.
Chemotherapy
Similar to radiation, chemotherapy is used to shrink the cancer before surgery. Your doctor might also use chemotherapy to treat bone cancer that has spread to other parts of the body, according to Mayo Clinic.
Side Effects
Surgery might cause infection, weakness or loss of sensation; it increases the risk of fracture. Chemotherapy can cause hair loss, nausea, digestive upset and fatigue. Radiation can cause loss of appetite, fatigue and damage to healthy surrounding tissue.
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