Treatments for bone cancer
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
Chemotherapy for bone cancer
Chemotherapy is commonly used to treat 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.
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.