Guides for Patients are designed to assist patients, their relatives and caregivers to better understand the nature of different types of cancer and evaluate the best available treatment choices.
What are bone sarcomas?
Bone sarcomas are a group of malignant tumours that may originate in any part of the body where bones are found, i.e. the skull, limbs and girdles, the spine and the ribs. Bone sarcomas are rare tumours, accounting for less than 1% of malignant tumours. There are various types of bone sarcomas. Bone sarcomas may not present symptoms for a long time and the symptoms will depend on the part of the body which is affected.
Beyond a definition of bone sarcomas, in this guide for patients you will find answers to questions such as:
- Are bone sarcomas common?
- What causes bone sarcomas?
- How are bone sarcomas diagnosed?
- What is important to know to get the optimal treatment?
- What are the treatment options?
- What are the possible side effects of the treatments?
- How can Patient Support Groups help?
- What happens after the treatment?
This guide for patients has been prepared in collaboration with Anticancer Fund as a service to patients, to help patients and their relatives better understand the nature of bone sarcomas and appreciate the best treatment choices available according to the subtype of bone sarcoma. ESMO recommends that patients ask their doctors about what tests or types of treatments are needed for their type and stage of disease.
Patient Guide for Bone Sarcomas was published in 2016.
To enquire about permission to translate or support the distribution (in English or in a translated version) of the Patient Guides series, please send an e-mail to patient_guides@esmo.org