Osteosarcoma
Osteo - comes from the ancient Greek word for bone, sarcoma – is the name given to cancer. Osteosarcoma is the most common type of primary bone cancer. It starts when bone cells become abnormal, growing out of control to form a lump of cancerous tissue. The cancerous tissue consists of abnormal cells that are attempting to make bone. Being able to see this abnormal bone under a microscope helps to confirm a diagnosis of osteosarcoma. The cause really is unknown but genetics can play a role. The majority of osteosarcoma arises from a single place within the area of a long bone known as the methaphysis, which contains the growing areas of the bone called the epiphyseal plate. The site at which the cancer starts is known as the primary tumor site. A long bone is much longer than it is wide. The best examples being the bones of the limbs: the femur and the humerus.
The three areas most often affected by osteosarcoma are the lower thigh bone nearest to the knee the distal femur 48%, the upper bone nearest to the knee the proximal tibia 27% and the upper arm bone nearest to the shoulder the proximal humerus 15%. Other bones can be affected such as the jaw, the spine, and the pelvis 6%. Tumors found in the bones of the face, skulls and spine are more common in older patients. Osteosarcoma usually behaves in an aggressive manner, which means it can spread in the bloodstream from or though the bone in which it starts to other places in the body. The most common place for it to spread is the lungs. Osteosarcoma can also spread to other places in the body including other bones. That is because osteosarcoma spreads at a early stage, as well as the treatment to the site of the primary tumor, patients needs treatment to the whole body, this is called a systemic treatment. This cancer can affect people of all ages, but is mostly found in older children, teenagers and young adults between the ages of 10 to 24 it affects 75% of this population. This type of cancer affect males
The three areas most often affected by osteosarcoma are the lower thigh bone nearest to the knee the distal femur 48%, the upper bone nearest to the knee the proximal tibia 27% and the upper arm bone nearest to the shoulder the proximal humerus 15%. Other bones can be affected such as the jaw, the spine, and the pelvis 6%. Tumors found in the bones of the face, skulls and spine are more common in older patients. Osteosarcoma usually behaves in an aggressive manner, which means it can spread in the bloodstream from or though the bone in which it starts to other places in the body. The most common place for it to spread is the lungs. Osteosarcoma can also spread to other places in the body including other bones. That is because osteosarcoma spreads at a early stage, as well as the treatment to the site of the primary tumor, patients needs treatment to the whole body, this is called a systemic treatment. This cancer can affect people of all ages, but is mostly found in older children, teenagers and young adults between the ages of 10 to 24 it affects 75% of this population. This type of cancer affect males
Bibliography: American Cancer Society http://www.cancer.org/ The Liddy Shriver Sarcoma Initiative http://sarcomahelp.org/ St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital http://www.stjude.org/stjude/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=f87d4c2a71fca210VgnVCM1000001e0215acRCRD National Cancer Institute http://www.cancer.gov/ The Bone and Cancer Foundation http://www.boneandcancerfoundation.org/