What is malignant bone cancer, primary?

A bone sarcoma is a kind of tumor—a growth of abnormal cells in the bones. When the tumor grows out of control and destroys nearby tissue or spreads to other parts of the body, it's called malignant. That means it's a type of cancer.

Sarcoma is another name for a malignant bone tumor.

Bone cancer can spread to other parts of the body, like the lungs or lymph nodes.

You may feel pain near the tumor.

You may feel swelling or a lump over the bone. If your tumor is near a joint, like your shoulder, hip, or knee, you may not be able to move your arm or leg freely.

Bone tumors can weaken your bones. Sometimes bones with tumors can break.

The doctor will ask about your child's symptoms and past health. He or she will also examine your child. If the doctor can feel a bone tumor or if your child has other symptoms, your child will get some tests. The tests can find out if it's cancer. They can also help the doctor figure out the best treatment for the tumor.

The doctor may also find a tumor when taking X-rays or images for another problem.

• Your child may have one or more imaging tests to get a better look at the tumor. These may include:
  • X-rays.
  • CT scan.
  • MRI scan.
  • PET scan.
  • Bone or other nuclear scan.
• Your child may need blood tests and other lab work. This might include genetic testing.
• Your child may need a biopsy so that a sample of the tumor can be looked at under a microscope. This sample may also be used to test for substances in your child's body that might indicate cancer (biomarkers), which will help with planning treatment.
• Doctors may also examine other parts of your child's body to see if the tumor has spread.

The doctor may talk to you about what "stage" your child's cancer is. The stage refers to how large the tumor is and how far it has spread. It also includes the tumor grade, which describes what the cancer cells look like and how likely they are to grow and spread.

These can help the doctor find out what type of treatment your child may need. And it may help to find a clinical trial that has treatments for your child's type of cancer.

Treatment for bone cancer is based on the stage of the cancer and other things, such as your overall health. The main treatments include:

Surgery.

You may need surgery to remove cancer from the bone or to remove part of the bone. A bone graft or metal part may be used to replace the bone that was removed. If cancer is found in an arm or a leg, the limb can usually be saved.

Chemotherapy.

These medicines kill fast-growing cells, including cancer cells and some normal cells.

Radiation therapy.

This uses high-dose X-rays to destroy cancer cells and shrink tumors. It may be used along with surgery or after surgery.

For certain types of bone tumors, other treatments may be used, such as a stem cell transplant, targeted therapy, or immunotherapy.

Your doctor will talk with you about your options and then make a treatment plan.

Take medicines exactly as directed. When you eat, focus on foods with enough protein and calories, or try liquid meal replacements. Be active, but don't get too tired. Take part in rehab if it's recommended. Get enough sleep, and make time for things you enjoy. Consider joining a support group.