Bone Cancers

As the name implies, bone cancer affects the bones in your body, but it’s a relatively rare form of cancer, accounting for less than 1% of all cancer diagnoses. If you’re among this small number, you want to get the best treatment available, which the team at Charleston Oncology provides. Through innovative clinical trials and targeted therapies, the doctors offer comprehensive diagnosis and treatment to patients.

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BOARD CERTIFIED ONCOLOGISTS SPECIALIZING IN BONE CANCER

George Keogh, MD

Charles Holladay, MD, FACP

Douglas Michaelsen, MD

Bone Cancers Q & A

What are the main types of bone cancer?

Bone cancer can strike any bone in your body, but it most commonly develops in your larger bones, including your:

Pelvis
Arms
Legs
Ankles

Bone cancers can be benign, resulting in a tumor in your bone that doesn’t spread, or malignant, which has the potential to spread. These malignant cancers include:

Osteosarcoma

The most common form of bone cancer, osteosarcoma starts in your bone cells and often strikes children and young adults, as well as older adults in their 60s and 70s.

Chondrosarcoma

This type of bone cancer affects the cells in your cartilage. Often, the tumors that develop in your cartilage are benign, but chondrosarcoma is a malignant tumor that needs to be treated.

Ewing sarcoma

This form of bone cancer most often affects people under the age of 20 and typically develops in your pelvis, chest, or the long bones of your arms and legs.

How are bone cancers diagnosed?

Bone cancers can be tricky to diagnose and are often misdiagnosed because the symptoms mimic other problems in your bones, such as infections. The first step in diagnosing your bone cancer is to take a look at what’s going on inside your bones through advanced imaging, like X-rays. If your doctor spots a problem, they will likely perform a biopsy to collect a piece of the tissue for closer examination.

If your doctor confirms the presence of cancer cells, they may perform further testing with MRIs, CT scans, and PET scans to determine the extent and stage of your bone cancer.

How are bone cancers treated?

If your doctor at Charleston Oncology diagnoses you with bone cancer, they sit down with you to review your treatment options, which may include one or more of the following:

Chemotherapy
Immunotherapy
Radiation therapy
Clinical trials
Surgery

Your doctor recommends a course of action depending on the stage of your bone cancer, its location, and your medical history, as well as your current health. Often, your doctor turns to several of the treatment options listed above to fully eradicate cancer from your bones.

To learn more about bone cancer, call Charleston Oncology to request an appointment.

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