Osteosarcoma Research Paper

Osteosarcoma (osteogenic sarcoma) is very rare bone cancer that begins in the cells that form bones. It most often occurs in the long bones that are in arms and legs. The bones that are infected are immature and have a weaker bone matrix than normal bones, and tumors grow on the infected area. There are 800 new U.S. cases per year, 400 of which are diagnosed in teenagers. The main symptoms of osteosarcoma include bone pain in a certain area, swelling, bone tissue formation, and limping. Thankfully, most cases are found at an early stage so treatment is more effective and the doctors can rid the body of cancer before it becomes deadly. The mortality rate of those who are diagnosed with osteosarcoma depends mainly on the location of the tumor and whether the cancer has spread by the time it is discovered. Localized tumors are found before the cancer can spread to other parts of the body, and metastatic tumors are found after the cancer has already spread. Five years after treatment, 60%-80% of patients with localized tumors are living and have a small chance of the cancer returning. But five years after treatment on the metastatic tumors, only 15%-30% of the …show more content…
Teens going through growth spurts are the most vulnerable, so doctors believe there is a link between rapid bone growth and the risk of tumor formation. Additionally, it is more common among males, tall children, and African Americans. Patients who have received radiation treatment for other cancers may also risk later development of tumors, as well as people with inherited cancer syndromes and people with non-cancerous bone diseases. It can be also be associated with specific genetic changes and diseases. Even with all these risks, there have been no known lifestyle-related risk factors and the cause of osteosarcoma is unknown. What we do know, is that certain changes in our DNA can cause cells to become