Can you lose a leg to cancer?
Sometimes amputation is extremely major surgery and involves removing a leg and its hip, or an arm and its shoulder. These operations are called hindquarter or forequarter operations. A surgeon will only do this if there is no other option to clear the cancer.
What type of cancer causes leg amputation?
If the cancer has spread to the nerves and blood vessels surrounding the original tumor on the bone, amputation (removing part of a limb along with the osteosarcoma) is often the only choice. When osteosarcoma has spread to the lungs or elsewhere, surgery might be done to remove tumors in these distant locations.
Can cancer be removed from bones?
Surgery is often the primary treatment for bone cancer. When operating to remove bone tumors, our surgeons remove some of the surrounding bone and muscle to be sure they are eliminating as much cancerous tissue as possible.
Does amputation cure osteosarcoma?
Historically, amputation was the primary surgical treatment for osteosarcoma of the extremities; however, with advancements in surgical techniques and chemotherapies limb salvage has replaced amputation as the dominant treatment paradigm.
Does bone cancer require amputation?
If the bone tumor is in the shoulder or upper arm and amputation is needed, in some cases the area with the tumor can be removed and the lower arm reattached so that the patient has a functional, but much shorter, arm.
How do surgeons remove a leg?
During the procedure itself, the surgeon will:
- Remove the diseased tissue and any crushed bone.
- Smooth uneven areas of bone.
- Seal off blood vessels and nerves.
- Cut and shape muscles so that the stump, or end of the limb, will be able to have an artificial limb (prosthesis) attached to it.
Can osteosarcoma be cured without amputation?
The treatment of highly malignant osteosarcoma is still a challenge to medical science. An ideal situation in the treatment of osteosarcoma is when the tumor can be eradicated without an amputation, bone/soft tissue loss with near normal function.
How is an amputation used to treat cancer?
What is an amputation? An amputation is an operation to remove all or part of a limb. This type of surgery is sometimes used to treat primary bone cancer or soft tissue sarcoma in an arm or leg. It is usually possible to remove a cancer in an arm or leg without having to remove the whole limb.
When to have an arm or leg amputation?
These operations are called hindquarter or forequarter operations. A surgeon will only do this if there is no other option to clear the cancer. It can be devastating news to be told that you must lose an arm or leg. But this might be the only way to try to cure your cancer. You might need to have an amputation rather than limb sparing surgery if:
What kind of surgery do I need for a tumor in my leg?
Most patients with tumors in the arms or legs can have limb-sparing surgery, but this depends on where the tumor is, how big it is, and whether it has grown into nearby structures. Limb-salvage surgery is a very complex operation. The surgeons who do this type of operation must have special skills and experience.
Which is better amputation or limb salvage surgery?
Physical rehabilitation after limb-salvage surgery is more intense than after amputation, and it’s extremely important. If the patient doesn’t actively take part in the rehabilitation program, the salvaged arm or leg might become useless. For some patients, amputation may be the best option.