If the Bone Pain of Osteosarcoma Does Not Go Away

If the bone pain of osteosarcoma

does not go away

Osteosarcoma refers to a malignant tumor that occurs in the bones, and it is rare, accounting for about 0.2% of all cancers.

It is known to occur mainly during the active growth period of the teenage years, and it is also known to occur more frequently in men than in women.

Today, we will look into the symptoms of osteosarcoma and also examine its causes and prognosis.

Causes First of all, the causes of osteosarcoma are said to be far removed from the factors that commonly cause cancer. Smoking and diet, for example, are known not to have a major effect.

In addition, having a certain disease or having received radiation therapy can increase the likelihood of developing cancer, but this does not apply to osteosarcoma patients.

In other words, no clear cause has yet been identified, so it is difficult to say that there is also a way to prevent osteosarcoma.

Symptoms Osteosarcoma can occur in any part of the body, such as the arms, legs, or pelvis, but the most common site is the bones around the knee, which are used frequently.

Symptoms of osteosarcoma include painful discomfort at the site where the malignant tumor has developed, and swelling that can cause the area to enlarge.

Compared with an injury or bruise, the pain tends to last longer and the swelling tends to worsen. In some cases, there may be no pain at all.

It can also cause swelling throughout the body, and in severe cases, pain may continue even during sleep.

In the lower body, where the joints are used a lot, symptoms such as swelling and pain can appear quickly even with slight movement, making them easier to notice. In the upper body, however, they may be relatively harder to detect.

If bone pain continues despite sufficient rest and recovery, it is advisable to visit a hospital for a detailed examination and medical evaluation.

Osteosarcoma symptoms are commonly found in adolescence and the 20s, and after that the frequency of occurrence decreases, then gradually rises again around the 50s and 60s.

The prognosis of osteosarcoma differs depending on whether it has spread to other organs. If there is no metastasis, the 5-year survival rate is known to be about 60% to 70%.

However, if the cancer has spread to other organs, the 5-year survival rate is relatively low, at about 20% to 30%.

In addition, the smaller the cancer and the less likely there is a bone fracture, the better the prognosis. Tumors in the arms and legs also tend to have a better prognosis than those in the pelvis or spine.

If unexplained pain continues without any specific injury and persists, we strongly recommend visiting a nearby hospital for a diagnosis.

Today, we looked at the symptoms, causes, and prognosis of osteosarcoma. We hope the information above was helpful.