Treatment for osteosarcoma usually involves chemotherapy (medication intravenously, or IV, which destroys cancer cells) as well as surgery to remove the tumor. In a few cases in which these procedures fail to fully overcome the cancer, the doctor may need to amputate a part or all of the limb to fight cancer.
Doctors can also perform surgery for limb salvage. In this intervention, the bone is removed to prevent cancer and the amputation of the limb by filling the space with a bone graft or a metal rod special.
The loss of a limb can be devastating, especially for teens who are going through other bodily changes. The psychological and physical therapy (also called “physical rehabilitation) can be very useful in this situation.
In general, adolescents who are receiving must practice amputation prosthesis or artificial limb, to help them adapt. Most adolescents are able to return to normal activities, including sports.
Most people develop side effects such as hair loss, bleeding, infection and heart or skin problems, from medicines used in chemotherapy treatment for osteosarcoma. Chemotherapy may also increase a patient’s risk of developing other cancers in the future. The good news is that most teens with osteosarcoma do recover.
