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Treatments for bone cancer

  1. Home
  2. Cancer information
  3. Cancer types
  4. Bone
  5. Treatment
Print

If you have bone cancer, your healthcare team will create a treatment plan just for you. It will be based on your health and specific information about the cancer. When deciding which treatments to offer for bone cancer, your healthcare team will consider:

  • the type of bone cancer
  • the stage and grade
  • your lifestyle and what you prefer or want
  • your overall health

Expert review and references

  • American Cancer Society. Bone Cancer. 2016.
  • Gerrand C, Athanasou N, BrennanB, et al. UK guidelines for the management of bone sarcomas. Clinical Sarcoma Research. 2016: 6:7.
  • Mavrogenis AF, Ruggieri P. Therapeutic approaches for bone sarcomas. Heyman D, (ed). Bone Cancer: Primary Bone Cancer and Bone Metastases. 2nd ed. San Diego, CA: Academic Press; 2015: 34: 407–414.
  • National Comprehensive Cancer Network. NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology: Bone Cancer (Version 1.2017). 2016.
  • O'Donnell RJ, Dubois SC, Hass-Kogan DA. Sarcomas of bone. DeVita VT Jr, Lawrence TS, Rosenberg SA. Cancer: Principles and Practice of Oncology. 10th ed. Philadelphia: Wolters Kluwer Health/Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2015: 91:1292–1313.
  • Samuel LC. Bone and soft-tissue sarcoma. Yarbro CH, Wujcik D, Holmes Gobel B (eds.). Cancer Nursing: Principles and Practice. 8th ed. Burlington, MA: Jones and Bartlett Learning; 2018: 46:1243-1277.
  • Streitbuerger A, Gosheger G, Hardes J. Chondrosarcoma of bone: diagnosis and therapy. Heyman D, (ed). Bone Cancer: Primary Bone Cancer and Bone Metastases. 2nd ed. San Diego, CA: Academic Press; 2015: 35: 415–424.

Treatments for osteosarcoma

The following are treatment options for all stages of osteosarcoma. The types of treatments given are based on the unique needs of the person with cancer.
Learn more on Treatments for osteosarcoma

Treatments for chondrosarcoma

The following are treatment options for all stages of chondrosarcoma. The types of treatments given are based on the unique needs of the person with cancer.
Learn more on Treatments for chondrosarcoma

Treatments for chordoma

The following are treatment options for chordoma. Your healthcare team will suggest treatments based on your needs and work with you to make a treatment plan.
Learn more on Treatments for chordoma

Surgery for bone cancer

Surgery is the primary treatment for bone cancer. Surgery is used to potentially cure the cancer by completely removing the tumour, to remove as much of the tumour as possible before using other therapies, to treat recurrent bone cancer, and to remove a tumour that has spread to the lung.
Learn more on Surgery for bone cancer

Chemotherapy for bone cancer

Chemotherapy is commonly used to treat bone cancer.
Learn more on Chemotherapy for bone cancer

Radiation therapy for bone cancer

Radiation therapy uses high-energy rays or particles to destroy cancer cells. Radiation may be used for bone cancer before surgery or chemotherapy to shrink a tumour (neoadjuvant radiation therapy), after surgery or chemotherapy to destroy cancer cells left behind, and to reduce the risk of the cancer coming back.
Learn more on Radiation therapy for bone cancer

Follow-up after treatment for bone cancer

Bone cancer behaves differently in each person, and a standard follow-up schedule would not work for everyone. People with bone cancer should talk to their doctor about a follow-up plan that suits their individual situation. Follow-up care is often shared among the cancer specialists and your family doctor.
Learn more on Follow-up after treatment for bone cancer

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Medical disclaimer

The information that the Canadian Cancer Society provides does not replace your relationship with your doctor. The information is for your general use, so be sure to talk to a qualified healthcare professional before making medical decisions or if you have questions about your health.

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