Can osteogenic type II b osteosarcoma in knee be recurred?
Patient: My 19 year old son was diagnose with Osteogenic type II b osteosarcoma on the knee (about 5cm). He had limb sparing surgery and systematic Chemotherapy (Adryomicin, cisplatin and methotrexade). He has had his first 3 month check up and every test is clear, his hair is growing back and he is feeling better and better. The surgery revealed that the chemo had killed >95% of the cancer...When I read the survival rates, they are quite low...Is this accurate, is this one of worst cancers, can we be optimistic, is there any vitamin/food that can help...He is doing so well that I cannot imagine this thing coming back....Thank you Doctor: Hi,Thanks for writing in.Osteogenic sarcoma is a bone forming cancer. Stage IIb is early disease and he is lucky to undergo limb sparing surgery and combination chemotherapy. The goal of cancer treatment is to destroy as many cancer cells and prevent the progress of the cancer.The first step is stabilizing the disease and once this is achieved then the goal is destroying the cancer cells. If the doctors have said that more than 95 percent of the cancer cells are destroyed then your son is in a better position than most patients. He should continue treatment and follow up as recommended. Nutrition is important during treatment and recovery and he should be eating a high protein diet will vitamins and minerals.The risk of recurrence or disease spread persists and close follow up is the only way early disease manifestation might be noticed and aggressive treatment given. If the disease is under control for 5 years then the risk of recurrence is low. Apart from the primary cancer location, it is important to get chest X rays and CT scan chest done as required because osteogenic sarcoma stage IIb has a risk for spread to the lungs. Please do not worry.