The rate of recovery from osteosarcoma varies somewhat, depending on several factors, including the stage of cancer diagnosis, the type of sarcoma as well, the general health of the cancer patient, and the extent of the patient’s response to treatment. In the event of early detection of osteosarcoma, the patient’s survival rate for 5 years is 70 to 80% by receiving appropriate treatment within Al Mousa Health Hospital, being the most famous and best hospitals in the Kingdom, whether the treatment is surgical or chemotherapy. However, if the cancer has spread, especially in the lungs, the rate of recovery from osteosarcoma is 70 to 80%.

What is osteosarcoma?

Osteosarcoma is the primary malignant type of bone cancer, which begins primarily in the bone. Most types of secondary bone cancer result from the emergence of malignant cancer cells from another organ. Osteosarcoma can be classified as a rare malignant cancer, and this type of cancer may leave an impact most of the time on the legs. It has been revealed that osteosarcoma is a cancer whose beginning is in the cells that make up the bones.

This condition affects adolescents and young adults most of the time, and it is possible for young children, adults, and the elderly to be affected by it. It is noteworthy that osteosarcoma can begin in any of the bones of the body, but its occurrence most often occurs in the long bones of the legs, and sometimes in the arms. It may occur in the soft tissues outside the bones and is considered a rare case.

Symptoms of osteosarcoma

Bone sarcoma includes many symptoms, and the recovery rate from bone sarcoma varies depending on the case. Below we mention its most important symptoms in detail:

• Bone pain begins as mild and intermittent, and with time the severity of the pain gradually increases until it is continuous and very constant.
• Swelling or a lump in the tumor area, which is warm to the touch.
• Bones break easily, as the bones are weak as a result of swelling, making them susceptible to breaking easily. This may occur with minor injuries or normal movements.
• Difficulty in movement, as the patient finds it difficult to move the affected joint, or his range of motion is limited.
• Having a fever and losing weight for no reason.
• Feeling tired and general weak.
• Difficulty when walking or moving.
• Feeling pain in the joints located near the tumor.
• A change in skin color in the skin of the area above the tumor.
• Feeling back pain, which is accompanied by bone pain.
• The patient loses control of the intestines and bladder in cases where the injury is in the pelvic bone area.

Learn about: A comprehensive guide to the difference between sarcoma and carcinoma

Causes of osteosarcoma

The causes of bone sarcoma cannot be clearly identified yet, but there are factors that increase the risk of developing the disease and on which the rate of recovery from bone sarcoma also depends. Below we mention the most important causes of bone sarcoma:

• Genetic factors: This is represented by some rare genetic syndromes, which are Li-Fraumeni syndrome and hereditary retinoblastoma syndrome, and these syndromes increase the risk of osteosarcoma.

• Chemicals: There are some chemicals that increase the risk of osteosarcoma when exposed to them, including arsenic and vinyl chloride compounds as well.

• Radiation: It is noteworthy that the radiation treatment that a person receives earlier for some types of cancer has an effect in increasing the risk of developing osteosarcoma.

• Bone-specific conditions: There are bone diseases that increase the risk of bone cancer, including Paget's disease of the bone and bone deformities.

• Age: Osteosarcoma most commonly affects childhood and adolescence, but there is an increase in cases between the ages of ten and thirty.

• Gender: Men are more affected by osteosarcoma than women.

What is the treatment for osteosarcoma?

The bone sarcoma patient receives treatment according to the type and stage of the tumor, and also according to the patient’s age and health condition. The recovery rate from bone sarcoma also depends on several different factors, and the following are details about the treatment of bone sarcoma:

• Treatment with surgery: Surgery aims to completely remove the tumor, in addition to removing part of the healthy tissue surrounding the tumor, and this works to reduce the risk of the cancer returning. There is what is called bone construction, where artificial bones or so-called bone grafts are used. In cases where amputation is required, this is in the large tumor, or in parts that are difficult to reach with surgery.

• Chemotherapy: It is a method through which cancer cells are killed and the tumor size is reduced, before surgery. There is chemotherapy as an adjuvant, and it is often relied upon in treatment in conjunction with surgery and radiotherapy.

• Radiation therapy: This type of treatment helps kill cancer cells, and even reduces the size of the tumor. It is used if there is no possibility of treatment with surgery, or if the tumor is not completely removed, and it can be used before or after surgery.

• Immunotherapy: This type of treatment for osteosarcoma is used to stimulate the immune system, which works to fight cancer cells, and is good if other treatments for the disease fail.

• Drug treatment: There are types of drugs that target specific molecules in cancer cells, and these drugs are relied upon to treat some types of sarcoma, especially when certain genetic mutations are present.

Book your consultation now at Oncology center At Al Mousa Specialist Hospital.

What is the cure rate for osteosarcoma?

It is not possible to determine the cure rate for osteosarcoma because it depends on a number of factors, but approximately the survival rate for five years is 26%, and for metastatic and non-metastatic cancer it is 77%. As for rhabdomyosarcoma, which occurs in localized cases and receives radiation therapy, the cure rate ranges from 80% to 100%, and if the tumor spreads, it reaches 25%. We mention the factors on which the cure rate depends as follows:

• The stage of detection of osteosarcoma: In cases where the cancer is discovered at an early stage, the chances of recovery are high.

• The extent of the spread of bone sarcoma: In cases where the cancer is localized and has not spread, the cure rate increases and the chance of recovery is high. However, in cases where the disease has spread to other places, such as the lungs, the cure rate is very low.

• Type of sarcoma: Each type of sarcoma has a different degree of response to treatment than the other type.

• The patient's general health: The patient's health condition has an impact on his ability to tolerate cancer treatment.

• Degree of response to treatment: The degree of patients’ response to treatment varies from one patient to another. There are people who have a high desire for chemotherapy or radiotherapy.

Find out: what it is Dermatofibrosarcoma tuberosus? Symptoms, methods of diagnosis and treatment

Tips for preventing  osteosarcoma cancer

After we mentioned the recovery rate from bone sarcoma, we confirm that methods of preventing bone sarcoma have not been revealed with certainty, as the causes of the disease are not clear, but general procedures have been revealed that reduce the risk of contracting the disease, and they are as follows:

• Healthy diet: This is done by following a healthy diet, including eating fruits and vegetables and eating whole grains, while refraining from excessive consumption of red meat and processed meat, and avoiding excessive saturated fats and processed foods.

• Healthy weight: This is done by maintaining a healthy weight. The more obese a person becomes, the greater the risk of developing some types of cancer. This is done by following a healthy diet and exercising regularly.

• Regular physical activity: Physical activities reduce the risk of many types of cancer.

• Abstaining from smoking: Smoking increases the risk of many types of cancer, including lung cancer, mouth cancer, and throat cancer.

• Avoid harmful chemicals: It is important to stay away from exposure to harmful chemicals, whether in the workplace or the environment in general.

• Protection from the sun: This is done by refraining from increased exposure to the harmful rays of the sun, with the necessity of wearing protective clothing, wearing a hat, sunglasses, and using appropriate sunscreen.

• Conduct periodic examinations: Through these examinations, natural changes that occur in the body are detected early, especially in people who have a family history of cancer.

Frequently asked questions:

Does sarcoma tumor spread quickly?

It is possible for a sarcoma tumor to spread rapidly, as it is a malignant tumor that originates in the connective tissues, which are the bones, muscles, and soft tissues as well. Some types of sarcoma are known for their rapid growth and spread, especially in the advanced stages of the disease, as they spread rapidly until they reach the bones, lungs, or reach the liver or brain.

Does sarcoma come back again after treatment?

Sarcoma is a type of cancer that can return again after treatment. The recovery rate from osteosarcoma may vary, as it returns to the same area or returns in other areas of the body. There are cancer cells that remain and spread if they are not discovered during the initial treatment.

Does chemotherapy eliminate bone cancer?

Indeed, chemotherapy is effective in treating some types of bone cancer, especially osteosarcoma and Ewing's sarcoma as well. Doctors may usually resort to chemotherapy after surgery, as it works to kill remaining cancer cells, and this reduces the risk of the cancer returning.

After we revealed the recovery rate from bone sarcoma, we reveal the importance of early diagnosis of the disease and receiving intensive treatment in order to obtain a successful treatment. The patient should be in constant contact with the health care team within Al Mousa Health Hospital to discuss everything related to therapeutic techniques until the appropriate treatment plan is developed.

Sources:

Rhabdomyosarcoma – webteb