Chondrosarcoma: symptoms
Chondrosarcomas are malignant tumors of cartilage tissue that usually grow slowly. They usually occur in skeletal sections close to the trunk, for example, in the pelvis, thigh, upper arm and ribs.
The patient feels pain in the area of the chondrosarcoma. Over time, the tissue in this area may also swell. In addition, depending on the location of the tumor, mobility in the affected area of the body may be limited.
Unexplained bone pain or swelling in bones or joints is not always caused by bone cancer. Nevertheless, you should always have such symptoms clarified by a doctor promptly.
Chondrosarcoma: Causes
The causes of bone tumors such as chondrosarcoma are not yet fully understood.
In addition, people with certain diseases have a higher risk of chondrosarcoma. These diseases include multiple cartilaginous exostosis (a hereditary disease in which numerous benign bone tumors form) and chondromatosis (a disease associated with the formation of mostly benign cartilage tumors). In both cases, the benign tumors may develop into chondrosarcoma.
In principle, a distinction is made between primary chondrosarcomas (no benign tumor as a precursor) and secondary chondrosarcomas (arise from a benign tumor, such as may occur in the context of multiple cartilaginous exostosis).
Chondrosarcoma: examinations and diagnosis
- Blood tests
- X-ray
- Computer tomography (CT)
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
- Bone scintigraphy
- Taking and analysis of a tissue sample (biopsy)
To learn more about such examinations when a malignant bone tumor such as chondrosarcoma is suspected, see Bone cancer: examinations and diagnosis.
Chondrosarcoma: Stages
Once the diagnosis of chondrosarcoma has been established, the severity of the disease must be determined. This is the basis for the subsequent therapy.
Essentially, the severity of a cancer depends on the spread of the tumor (according to the TNM system) and the deviation of the cancerous tissue from normal tissue (grading).
You can read more about this under Bone cancer: Stages.
Chondrosarcoma: Treatment
Chondrosarcoma, like other forms of bone cancer, should be treated at a specialized center. The doctors, therapists, and nurses there have extensive experience caring for bone cancer patients.
Chondrosarcomas also respond little or not at all to chemotherapy, which is often used for cancer. This therapy is therefore only used in individual cases.
You can read more about the various treatment options – also for relapses and in the final stages of the disease – under Bone cancer: Treatment.
Chondrosarcoma: Supportive Therapy
Surgery (and possibly radiotherapy and chemotherapy) is used to try to target chondrosarcoma. However, the treatment may have side effects. For example, radiation therapy to the pelvic area may result in temporary or permanent infertility.
In addition, many patients suffer from discomfort caused by the tumor itself (such as severe pain).
Doctors and therapists take care of both – side effects of cancer therapy as well as symptoms of the disease – as part of supportive therapy (also called adjuvant or accompanying therapy).
Chondrosarcoma: Rehabilitation
Many patients find it difficult to return to everyday life and to social, professional or educational life after cancer treatment. Rehabilitation programs provide valuable support in this respect.
There, cancer patients learn, for example, how to deal with the consequences of cancer treatment (e.g. leg amputation, wearing a prosthesis, nerve disorders after cancer therapy). Sports programs help to get physically fit again. Also addressed are any psychosocial consequences of cancer disease and therapy, such as fatigue syndrome, anxiety or depression.
You can find out more about various rehabilitation measures for chondrosarcoma patients under Bone cancer: Rehabilitation.
Bone cancer: follow-up care
After cancer treatment is complete, your doctor will tell you when and at what intervals you should come in for follow-up visits. These follow-up appointments are very important:
You can learn more about this topic under Bone cancer: Aftercare.
Chondrosarcoma: Life expectancy
The chances of cure and life expectancy for chondrosarcoma and other forms of bone cancer depend on several factors. For example, how large and malignant the tumor is, whether it can be surgically removed, and whether it has already metastasized at the time it is discovered all play a role.
Read more about these general prognostic factors of malignant bone tumors under Bone cancer: life expectancy.
Survival rates are statistical figures and therefore only indicative. They say nothing about what an individual patient’s chance of survival is.
Bone cancer: Further information
Germany:
German Cancer Aid: https://www.krebshilfe.de
German Cancer Information Center: https://www.krebsinformationsdienst.de
Kinderkrebsinfo.de – Information portal on cancer and blood diseases in children and adolescents: https://www.kinderkrebsinfo.de
Center for Bone and Soft Tissue Tumors (SarKUM) Sarcoma Center of the LMU Hospital, Munich: https://www.lmu-klinikum.de/ccc/patientenportal/sarkomzentrum/c9ea15777a5b6c4e
Berlin Center for Rare Diseases (BCSE) of the Charité: https://bcse.charite.de/
Clinic for General Orthopedics and Tumor Orthopedics, University Hospital Münster: https://www.ukm.de/kliniken/orthopaedie
Late Effect Surveillance System (LESS): https://www.nachsorge-ist-vorsorge.de/
Austria:
Austrian Cancer Aid: https://www.krebshilfe.net/
Comprehensive Cancer Center Vienna: www.ccc.ac.at
Austrian Children’s Cancer Aid: https://www.kinderkrebshilfe.at
Switzerland:
Krebsliga Schweiz: https://www.krebsliga.ch/
Cancer Research Switzerland: https://www.krebsforschung.ch/
Children’s Cancer Aid Switzerland: https://www.kinderkrebshilfe.ch/de
Children’s Cancer Research Switzerland: https://www.kinderkrebsforschung.ch
Swiss Association for Clinical Cancer Research (SAKK): https://www.sakk.ch
Swiss Society for Psychooncology: https://www.psychoonkologie.ch/
