Standard Treatment Some years ago it was customary to recommend amputation for bone sarcomas involving the arms or legs. Nowadays it may be possible to save the extremity (limb salvage) by the use of a combination of several treatment methods, often including a prosthesis , which is surgically inserted to replace the bone that must be removed. Most often the first intervention is chemotherapy using drugs such as platinum, doxorubicin , methotrexate and cyclophosphamide or ifosfamide in an attempt to shrink the tumor . Whether a limb-saving surgery or amputation is performed depends on many factors, including the location of the tumor, response to chemotherapy, age and the wishes of the patient and family. Further chemotherapy is given after surgery, sometimes with the same drugs used preoperatively.
Five-Year Survival 60 to 70 percent
Metastatic
When the tumor has spread through the blood, the disease is still treatable and occasionally curable.
Standard Treatment The most aggressive chemotherapy approaches are used. Surgery may also be necessary to remove lung metastases as well as the original tumor.
More intense chemotherapy, made possible by the use of bone marrow stimulating factors and optimum supportive care measures for complications such as infections and bleeding, may improve survival.
