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How can surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy be used to treat bone cancer?

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bone disease Defect of tibia, caused by septic osteomyelitis in childhood, with compensatory thickening of the fibula (right). Normal bones are shown at left.

Treatment for bone cancer typically involves a combination of surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy, tailored to the specific type, location, size, and spread of the tumor.1

Surgical Intervention

Surgery is a primary treatment used to remove the tumor. Depending on the case, this may involve:
* Limb-sparing surgery: Removing only the affected portion of the bone and replacing it with a bone graft or a prosthesis.1
* Amputation: In some instances, the removal of the involved limb is necessary.1

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy involves the administration of drugs that circulate through the bloodstream to destroy cancer cells by preventing them from multiplying. It is often used as an adjunct to surgery or radiation and may be administered before or after a surgical procedure. Because chemotherapy can damage bone marrow—the tissue responsible for producing blood cells—patients may sometimes require stem cell or bone marrow transplantation to support recovery.213

Radiation Therapy

Radiation therapy uses high-energy beams to damage the DNA of cancer cells, leading to cell death. It is a localized treatment that can be used to shrink tumors, relieve pain, or address pressure on adjacent structures. However, because it can affect healthy tissues within the radiation field, it may cause temporary side effects such as skin reactions or lowered blood-cell counts.45