Hearing the words, “Your child has bone cancer,” can turn your world upside down in seconds.
You might feel like someone knocked the wind out of you. Those words can be very shocking and overwhelming. But after the shock wears off, it’s important to take a moment to breathe and know that help is there for your child.
At Cleveland Clinic Children's, experienced, compassionate healthcare providers will support you and your child every step of the way. From confirming an osteosarcoma diagnosis to guiding your child through highly personalized treatments, you can rest assured knowing your child (and your family) is getting the best pediatric bone cancer care.
Cleveland Clinic Children’s has one of the largest sarcoma programs in the U.S. Providers on your child’s care team diagnose and treat bone cancers every day. They have decades of experience and use the latest therapies and surgeries — like limb-sparing techniques and high-tech, custom-made prosthetics (artificial limbs) — if needed. Meet our team.
Your child’s mental and emotional health are also important to us. Our compassionate providers know what it takes to help your child cope with anxiety during tests, procedures and hospital stays. We also offer many support services and resources that can help both you and your child handle the demands of cancer.
Our providers participate in clinical trials to stay current with the latest osteosarcoma treatments. If your child is eligible, they can participate in these trials and get new, innovative treatments before they’re widely available.
We make it easier to coordinate osteosarcoma treatments and follow-ups. Your child can typically see several providers during a single visit to one location, so you don’t have to keep coming back.
We also offer virtual visits when your child doesn’t need to meet with their providers in person. All you need is an internet connection and a smartphone, computer or tablet to conveniently connect one-on-one, online, from the comfort of home.
Cleveland Clinic Children’s is a trusted healthcare leader. We’re recognized throughout the U.S. for our expertise and care.
It takes a team of healthcare providers in different specialties to diagnose and treat pediatric osteosarcoma. Our experts work together to meet your child’s needs throughout their treatment. Their team could include:
At their first visit, we’ll start by talking with you about their symptoms and medical history. They’ll have a physical exam, where we’ll look for signs of osteosarcoma — like bone pain or tenderness, a lump that’s warm and can be felt through their skin or unexplained fever. We’ll also do bloodwork to see how well their kidneys and liver are working. We might also order some other tests.
There are a number of different imaging tests we can do to get a closer look at your child’s bones from different angles and dimensions:
Images from these tests can help us when we start putting together your child’s personalized treatment plan. Your child’s provider will talk with you about which tests they think will be best for your child.
Your provider might also take a tissue sample (biopsy), often using a minimally invasive needle technique. Our experienced pathologists will study these tissues under a microscope to look for abnormal cells.
Learning that your child may have cancer can be an emotional moment. You’ll want to make sure you’re working with a team of healthcare providers you trust to give your child the best possible treatment with a personal, compassionate touch.
At Cleveland Clinic Children's, we encourage second opinions so you feel confident with your child’s care. We always try to schedule your appointment with us as soon as possible, so we can start your child’s personalized treatment plan right away.
We offer treatment for Osteosarcoma at the following locations in Northeast Ohio.
Your child’s care team will work with you to craft a treatment plan based on your child’s age, overall health and lifestyle and tumor size. Treatment could include a mix of chemotherapy, radiation, surgery and more.
Chemotherapy is a special medication that destroys cancer cells. Our team has deep knowledge of each chemotherapy treatment and its effects. We treat cancer aggressively while minimizing — or even preventing — side effects, like nausea (feeling sick to your stomach). And our experienced dietitians help you plan what your child eats. We want your child to stay at a weight that’s healthy for them throughout treatment.
We might also recommend stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT). This treatment sends powerful, highly targeted doses of radiation right to the tumor, which helps protect the healthy tissue surrounding it.
If surgery is needed, our orthopaedic oncology surgery team will always try to save your child’s limb. We also do cryoablation. This minimally invasive treatment uses a thin needle to destroy osteosarcoma tumors by freezing the cancer cells.
When we aren’t able to save the limb, we’ll help you and your child choose an advanced prosthesis (artificial limb). Our team partners with vendors who make 3D printed, customized replacement limbs. Prosthetic surgery techniques include:
It might be the last thing on your mind right now, but it’s important to know that cancer treatments can affect your child’s long-term fertility (ability to have children). Cleveland Clinic Children's offers all fertility preservation options. We’re able to store sperm, eggs or reproductive tissue for later use. We’ll work with you and your child to understand the risks and make an informed decision.
Cleveland Clinic Children's cancer team is one of the few nationwide that includes dedicated pediatric geneticists and genetic counselors (specialists who study genes and heredity). If your child has an inherited form of osteosarcoma, our genetics experts explain how the diagnosis affects your child, you and other family members.
Hearing your child has cancer can be very stressful and make every day feel like a blur. That’s why we believe getting the right treatment for your child shouldn’t make things even harder. We treat pediatric bone cancers like osteosarcoma every day. We’re here to guide and support you and your child from diagnosis to recovery and beyond.
Getting an appointment with Cleveland Clinic Children's osteosarcoma experts is easy. We’re here to help your child get care.
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Learning your child has cancer can be stressful, shocking and challenging. From the moment you get the news, your child is a survivor. As you face the challenges that go along with their cancer treatment and recovery — physical and emotional — we’ll be right there with you. At Cleveland Clinic Children’s, survivorship care is one part of your child’s journey. Through our Childhood Cancer Survivorship Program, you’ll find support for any medical and emotional challenges that may happen in the years following cancer treatment.
We’re also there for you throughout this entire journey. We offer a wide range of services, resources, clinics and support groups to help with any physical, emotional, financial and spiritual needs you might have related to your child’s cancer diagnosis. Lending a helping hand along the way, we want your child not only survive, but thrive on this journey and beyond.
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