There are some types of cancer that teens are more likely to get. What these cancers have in common are cells, the basic components or "building blocks" of the human body. Cancer occurs when cells develop abnormally and grow in an uncontrolled way. Read on to learn information about types of cancer that teens may get, including warning signs and symptoms and how these cancers can be treated.

Osteosarcoma
Osteosarcoma (pronounced: os-tee-oh-sar-koh-ma) is the most common type of bone cancer. It usually appears in teen guys, often during their growth spurt. Osteosarcoma affects twice as many guys as girls, and tends to show up in people who are taller than average. Certain medical problems that may be caused by genes, such as retinoblastoma (pronounced: reh-tin-oh-blas-toe-muh), a tumor that develops in the retina of the eye, may predispose some teens to develop osteosarcoma. The same is true if a teen has received bone radiation treatments for other cancers.

The most common symptoms of osteosarcoma are pain and swelling in an arm or leg that is sometimes accompanied by a lump. Some people have more pain at night or when they exercise. Osteosarcoma is most often found in the bones around the knee but can occur in other bones as well.

Treatment usually involves chemotherapy (intravenous, or IV, medication that kills cancer cells) as well as surgery to remove the tumor.

A doctor may perform limb-salvage surgery, where the bone that has cancer is removed and the limb (usually an arm or leg) is saved from amputation by filling the gap with a bone graft or special metal rod. But if the tumor has spread or metastasized (when cells from a tumor break away from the original cancer site and travel to a different tissue or organ) beyond the bone to nerves and blood vessels of the limb, the doctor may need to amputate (remove) part or all of the limb along with the cancer.

Losing a limb can be devastating, especially for teens who already may have problems related to their body images. Counseling and physical rehabilitation, also called physical therapy, can both be helpful in this situation. Teens who undergo amputations are usually fitted with a prosthesis (pronounced: pros-thee-sis), or artificial limb, which can help them adapt. Most teens are able to return to normal activities - even sports.

Most teens develop side effects, such as hair loss, bleeding, infections, and heart or skin problems, from medicines used in chemotherapy treatment for osteosarcoma. Chemotherapy may also increase the person's risk of developing other cancers in the future. The good news is that most teens with osteosarcoma do recover.

Ewing's Sarcoma
Another type of cancer that affects the bone is Ewing's sarcoma. It is similar to osteosarcoma in that it also affects teens and young adults and is usually located in the leg or pelvis.

Most teens with Ewing's sarcoma receive chemotherapy as well as surgery. Some patients will also need radiation in addition to or instead of surgery to make sure that remaining cancer cells have been destroyed. Ewing's sarcoma generally responds well to chemotherapy and radiation.

Osteosarcoma and Ewing's sarcoma share common risk factors and side effects from treatment. Chances for recovery depend upon where the tumor is located, its size, and whether it has spread. But both types of bone cancer respond well to treatment and are curable in many cases.

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