CHONDROSARCOMABy: Nicholas Hahn

Symptoms

A lump or tumor accompanied with pain. Although severity in pain depends on the size and location of the tumor. Tumors can weaken the bone and joints leading to tenderness and bone fractures.

Can lead to bone Problems like pain and swelling.

Prevalence and Age group

Prevalence for Chondrosarcoma is rare, only 2100 cases of this cancer is diagnosed in the United States each year. Chondrosarcoma usually affects males ages 20-60 years old, however cases outside this age group are possible. 8 in one million people aged 80-84 have Chondrosarcoma.

Causes and Transmission

The exact cause of Chondrosarcoma is still not known. However it is thought that several different chromosomal and genetic imbalances can cause the cancer. However since Chondrosarcoma tumors form on healthy bone and cartilage tissue, it is hard to prove what exactly causes the disease. There is no chance of person to person transmission, just like many other kinds of cancers.

Treatments

Chondrosarcoma does not have a cure. However it can be treated by removing the tumor and treating the affected area with chemotherapy. Remission is very possible with Chondrosarcoma with a 90% survival rate past the 5 year mark. However it also depends what stage the cancer is treated at. The earlier the cancer is caught the better chance of a remission.

Interesting Facts

Chondrosarcoma is the second most common primary bone cancer with up to 25% of cases, primary bone cancer being that the cancer originally started in the bone, and not another organ.

Chondrosarcoma mainly affects the shoulder, the femur, arm, pelvis, knee, and spine. However places like the ribs can be affected.

There have been very few cases of Chondrosarcoma spreading to other soft tissue.

Sources

http://chondrosarcoma.blogspot.com/2009/06/what-are-symptoms-of-chondrosarcoma.html

http://www.sarcomasource.com/article.php?aID=6&article=Chondrosarcoma

http://sarcomahelp.org/chondrosarcoma.html