Bethany was 14 when she was diagnosed with periosteal osteosarcoma. This is her story:
Incidence
There are approximately 30 new cases of osteosarcoma in children each year in Great Britain.
Although osteosarcoma can develop in any bone, it occurs most often in the bones on either side of the knee (tibia or femur) and in the upper arm.
Osteosarcoma is extremely rare under the age of three years and gradually increases with age, with two thirds of childhood cases occurring in the 10-14 year age group. Incidence is similar in girls and boys up to age 14 years but a male excess emerges at around 15-16 years. This male excess arises earlier in Ewing sarcoma of bone (at 10-14 years).
In addition to these childhood cases, a further 45 teenagers and young adults (15 to 24 years) are diagnosed with osteosarcoma every year in the UK.
Survival
65 out of 100 children (65%) with osteosarcoma survive for 5 years or more after diagnosis in the UK.
Patients with localized disease can expect 5-year survival rates as high as 60–78%, but survival drops to 20–30% for those with metastatic disease
Osteosarcoma in patients younger than 12 years old without metastases have similar prognosis as adolescent and young adults.
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