Whole body

What It Is

Osteosarcoma is the most common type of bone cancer (American Cancer Society, 2025a). The cancer cells look like early forms of the cells that normally make new bone, and they make immature bone, which is not as strong as normal bone. Most cases happen in children, teenagers and young adults, with teenagers most often affected (American Cancer Society, 2025a; Macmillan Cancer Support, 2022). It can occur at other ages too, and adults may have a slightly higher risk later in life if they have Paget's disease of bone or have had radiotherapy in the past (Macmillan Cancer Support, 2022).

Osteosarcoma literally means a cancer of bone-forming tissue. It is a serious condition and can be life threatening.

It often develops at times when bones are growing quickly, such as during puberty (Macmillan Cancer Support, 2022), and in the parts of the bone that grow quickly, near the ends of the long bones. The most common sites are the bones of the arms and legs, often near the knee or shoulder (American Cancer Society, 2025a): the lower end of the thigh bone (distal femur), the top of the shin bone (proximal tibia) and the top of the upper arm bone (proximal humerus). An osteosarcoma can start in any bone, including the hip, jaw and shoulder.

Some bone tumours are benign (not cancer) and not life-threatening, such as osteochondromas. Osteosarcomas, unfortunately, are malignant (cancer). With treatment, about 60 to 70 percent of people diagnosed with osteosarcoma are cured, and for people whose cancer has not spread, survival rates range from 60 to 75 percent (American Cancer Society, 2025e).

Osteosarcoma Anatomy

A bone cell becomes abnormal (mutates) and grows out of control. The cancer cells look like bone-forming cells, known as osteoblasts.

The main types are named after the cells the cancer most resembles: osteoblastic osteosarcoma, where the cells look most like bone-making cells; chondroblastic osteosarcoma, where they look most like cartilage-making cells; and fibroblastic osteosarcoma, where they look most like cells that make fibrous tissue (American Cancer Society, 2025a).

The rapidly growing cells form a tumour on the bone. This often occurs just above or below the knee joint. The cancer can spread through the bloodstream to other sites, such as the lungs.

The main symptom is pain, which may happen at night or when resting, and there may be swelling (Macmillan Cancer Support, 2022). The pain often develops for no obvious reason, rather than after a sports injury, and does not settle with the usual measures. Osteosarcoma is difficult to diagnose without tests. Doctors use X-rays and scans such as MRI, and the diagnosis is confirmed with a biopsy, where a sample of tissue is taken from the bone and checked under a microscope (Macmillan Cancer Support, 2022).

Not a diagnosis — for more information, contact me or another trusted healthcare provider.

Treatment

Self-Care & Treatment

Treatments you may want to discuss with your family doctor, nurse practitioner or medical team

Osteosarcoma is treated by specialist sarcoma teams. Your medical team will explain the plan that is right for you.

Options outside my scope

Chemotherapy: the use of anti-cancer drugs, usually given into a vein, which travel through the bloodstream to destroy cancer cells throughout the body (American Cancer Society, 2025d). For osteosarcoma it is usually given before surgery to shrink the tumour, and again afterwards to destroy any remaining cancer cells (Macmillan Cancer Support, 2022).
Surgery: surgery includes the biopsy used to diagnose the cancer and the operation to remove the tumour, and it is an important part of treatment for almost all osteosarcomas. Surgeons remove the tumour together with some of the normal tissue around it, to lower the chance of the cancer coming back (American Cancer Society, 2025c). It is usually possible to save the limb (limb-sparing surgery); very rarely, removing the limb (amputation) is the best treatment (Macmillan Cancer Support, 2022).

How I can help (see the My Approach tab)

Gentle, relaxing care during treatment, once your team agrees
Swelling and scar care after surgery
Rebuilding strength, movement and walking

Tips

Osteosarcoma is most common in teenagers, possibly because it tends to develop when bones are growing quickly during puberty (Macmillan Cancer Support, 2022).
People of above-average height have a higher risk of developing osteosarcoma (American Cancer Society, 2025b).
Osteosarcoma is more common in males than in females (American Cancer Society, 2025a).
It is slightly more common in Black and Hispanic people than in White people (American Cancer Society, 2025a).
People who have had radiotherapy in the past have a slightly higher risk of developing osteosarcoma (Macmillan Cancer Support, 2022).

Treatment

My Approach

Massage doesn't treat osteosarcoma, but it can help you feel more comfortable and move better through treatment and afterwards. Your cancer team leads, and I work inside their limits: I need their okay before hands-on treatment during active treatment, and your surgeon's okay after surgery.

Please bring any X-ray or scan reports and notes from your medical team to your first visit. They're an important part of planning safe treatment for you.

I assess how you move and walk, your strength, and what your team has cleared you for.

During Treatment

Gentle, relaxing sessions with breathing and relaxation, kept shorter when you're tired or unwell
No pressure over the tumour site or recent surgical areas
Work for the areas that work harder, such as the shoulders and arms if you're on crutches

After Surgery

Gentle lymphatic drainage for swelling, with your team's approval
Scar work once the wound has healed
Gentle movement for stiff joints, within the range your team allows
Strength, balance and walking practice, building back towards everyday activities

Most people with osteosarcoma are teenagers. Parents are welcome to sit in, with their child's agreement, and I'll show you how to help your child with their exercises at home. New or worsening bone pain, swelling or a new lump should go straight back to your medical team.

What to Expect

Typical Course

Typical course: Your cancer team's plan sets the pace. During treatment, most people come weekly or less often, with short, gentle sessions; after surgery, usually once or twice a week at first, then weekly, then less often, with a reassessment at about 4 to 6 weeks. Rehabilitation after surgery usually takes several months, and sometimes a year or more.

What I Focus On

Working Within Your Team's Limits

Comfort & Relaxation

Compensation Relief

Swelling & Scar Care

Return to Strength

Please read

When to See a Doctor First

When to see your family doctor or nurse practitioner

Bone pain is much more often caused by something other than cancer, but if you or your child has a swelling or bone pain that has no clear cause, get it checked by your family doctor or nurse practitioner, and tell them if the pain happens at night or when resting (Macmillan Cancer Support, 2022).

Sources

References

American Cancer Society (2025a) Osteosarcoma. Available at: https://www.cancer.org/cancer/types/osteosarcoma/about/what-is-osteosarcoma.html (Accessed: 7 October 2026).
American Cancer Society (2025b) Causes, risk factors, and prevention of osteosarcoma. Available at: https://www.cancer.org/cancer/types/osteosarcoma/causes-risks-prevention/risk-factors.html (Accessed: 7 October 2026).
Macmillan Cancer Support (2022) Osteosarcoma. Available at: https://www.macmillan.org.uk/cancer-information-and-support/bone-cancer/osteosarcoma (Accessed: 7 October 2026).
American Cancer Society (2025c) Surgery for osteosarcoma. Available at: https://www.cancer.org/cancer/types/osteosarcoma/treating/surgery.html (Accessed: 7 October 2026).
American Cancer Society (2025d) Chemotherapy for osteosarcoma. Available at: https://www.cancer.org/cancer/types/osteosarcoma/treating/chemotherapy.html (Accessed: 7 October 2026).
American Cancer Society (2025e) Survival rates for osteosarcoma. Available at: https://www.cancer.org/cancer/types/osteosarcoma/detection-diagnosis-staging/survival-rates.html (Accessed: 7 October 2026).

Massage therapy · Kitchener–WaterlooOsteosarcoma

What It Is

Osteosarcoma Anatomy

Self-Care & Treatment

Treatments you may want to discuss with your family doctor, nurse practitioner or medical team

Tips

My Approach

During Treatment

After Surgery

Typical Course

When to See a Doctor First

When to see your family doctor or nurse practitioner

References

Related Conditions

Book a session

Massage therapy · Kitchener–WaterlooOsteosarcoma

What It Is

Osteosarcoma Anatomy

Self-Care & Treatment

Treatments you may want to discuss with your family doctor, nurse practitioner or medical team

Tips

My Approach

During Treatment

After Surgery

Typical Course

When to See a Doctor First

When to see your family doctor or nurse practitioner

References

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