After Treatment

After treatment for osteosarcoma ends, talk with your child’s doctor about developing a follow-up care plan. This plan may include regular physical examinations and/or medical tests to monitor your child’s recovery for the coming months and years. All children treated for cancer, including osteosarcoma, should have life-long follow-up care.

There are two major considerations for the long-term health of patients who have had osteosarcoma. The first is whether the surgery resulted in a well-functioning limb, or whether there were complications? The following are the most common orthopedic complications: fracture, if a bone allograft (bone from another person) has been used; metallic failure or loosening, if an internal prosthesis, such as an artificial knee, has been implanted; or infection. These complications can usually be treated with another surgery and, if an infection has set in, long-term antibiotic therapy. Occasionally, these approaches fail and an amputation is required.

The second consideration is whether recurrence or late effects appear. Recurrence of the cancer more than five years after the initial diagnosis is rare. The drugs used to treat osteosarcoma have a small chance, approximately 1.5%, of causing leukemia (called a secondary or induced leukemia). Other possible side effects are related to the details of the type of chemotherapy used. The most frequent drugs and long-term effects that require monitoring are:

Generally, most patients recovering from osteosarcoma function well. Based on the type of treatment your child received, the doctor will determine what examinations and tests are needed to check for long-term side effects, such as heart failure, hearing loss, kidney damage and the possibility of secondary cancers. Your child’s doctor can recommend the necessary screening tests. Follow-up care should also address the child’s quality of life, including any developmental or emotional concerns. Learn more about childhood cancer survivorship.

The child’s family is encouraged to organize and keep a record of the child’s medical information, so that as the child enters adulthood, he or she has a clear, written history of the diagnosis and details of the treatment given. The doctor’s office can help you compile this, and it should include recommendations from the doctor about the schedule for follow-up care. This information will be valuable to doctors who care for your child during his or her lifetime.

Children who have had cancer can also enhance the quality of their future by following established guidelines for good health into and through adulthood, including not smoking, maintaining a healthy weight, eating a balanced diet, and participating in regular physical activity. Talk with the doctor about developing a plan that is best for your child’s needs.

Find out more about common terms used after cancer treatment is complete.