Treatment for Osteosarcoma

 

Standard Therapy for Osteosarcoma:

Chemotherapy is given before surgery to reduce the size of the tumor and to prevent cancer cells from returning. After surgery, chemotherapy treatment will be used again if a high percentage of cancer cells are found in the tumor biopsy.

Three different surgical procedures are used for osteosarcoma: limb-sparing, rotationplasty (which is a form of limb sparing), or amputation.

Limb-Sparing Surgery: Using limb-sparing surgery depends on the tumor size, location in the body, and how well the patient responded to chemotherapy before the surgery. This type of surgery removes the cancerous tumor and bone. The bone is replaced with either a bone graft from a cadaver or a prosthesis, such as a metal rod, to make the limb as strong and functionable as possible. Seventy percent to 90 percent of patients can be treated by this method.

Rotationplasty: "The doctor removes a portion of the leg, including the knee. The lower part of the leg is rotated and reattached so that the ankle becomes the new knee, and a prosthetic device is attached to replace the ankle and foot" (The Bone and Cancer Foundation, 2009).

Meet Dugan Smith

This is Dugan Smith. He was ten years old and in the 4th Grade when he was diagnosed with Osteosarcoma. A malignant tumor on his femur bone caused the bone to break while he was playing baseball. His treatment choice was rotationplasty because this would give him the best chance at getting back to playing baseball (Dahl, 2011).

Dugan Smith in 2008
Dahl, 2011

Dugans right leg was amputated above the knee and the malignancy was removed.  His doctor reattached the remainder of his leg backward so his ankle could function as a knee when he slides his foot into a prosthetic. This procedure allows him to bend his leg, run and play (Dahl, 2011).

Dugan Smith Cancer Free in 2011
Conley, 2011

 

If you would like to know more about Dugan Smith, click on the captions below his photos and it will take you to 2 different websites.  His story is fascinating!






If you are interested in watching a video on YouTube about his story and medical procedure CLICK HERE.  (Parts of the surgery are graphic.)

 Rotationplasty 

Patient Education Video by the Mayo Clinic

The video below was done by the Mayo Clinic. Their Patient Education department described the video, "This is a pre-surgical video which describes rotationplasty, who the procedure is appropriate for and possible complications. This video depicts the process of being fitted for a prosthesis and learning to use it. The patient describes her active and satisfying life after rotationplasty, her emotions and the process of adjusting to living with a prosthesis." The patients name is Shanna and I think this procedure is amazing. What do you think?

I could not find any details about Dugan or Shanna taking fluoride supplements or drinking fluoridated water. I have included them to illustrate the treatment of rotationplasty.


(Third type of surgery used)

Amputation: Removal of the limb. A prosthesis can usually replace the limb.

References

Bone and Cancer Foundation. (2009) Osteosarcoma. The Paget Foundation for Paget’s Disease of Bone and Related Disorders. Retrieved from the Website: http://www.boneandcancerfoundation.org/pdfs/Osteosarcoma-2.pdf

Conley, M. (2011). After a Rare Bone Cancer Diagnosis, Doctors Reattach Boy’s Leg Back to Front. abc News Good Morning America. Retrieved from Website:  http://abcnews.go.com/Health/ohio-boys-leg-reattached-backward-cancer-surgery/story?id=13573988#.T5HH9tXKuSp

 

Dahl, M. (2011). Meet the boy with the backward leg. msn msnbc.com Today Health. Retrieved from the Website: http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/43053031/ns/today-today_health/t/meet-boy-backward-leg/#.T5HBcdXKuSp

Science and Technology. (2010). Rotationplasty. Mayo Clinic. Retrieved from YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=njJUcTbR2SY