ON THIS PAGE: You will find information about the number of children and teens who are diagnosed with osteosarcoma each year. You will also read general information on surviving the disease. Remember, survival rates depend on several factors. Use the menu to see other pages.
This year, an estimated 1,000 people of all ages in the United States will be diagnosed with osteosarcoma. About half of these cases will occur in children and teens.
Osteosarcoma makes up 2% of all cancers in children ages 0 to 14 and 3% of all cancers in teens ages 15 to 19. It is most often diagnosed between the ages of 10 and 30, with most of these diagnoses occurring in teens. However, osteosarcoma can be diagnosed at any age, including in older adults. Around 10% of osteosarcoma is diagnosed in people over age 60.
The 5-year survival rate tells you what percent of children and teens live at least 5 years after the cancer is found. Percent means how many out of 100. However, the survival rate for osteosarcoma depends on several different factors, including the type and subtype of the cancer, the cancer’s response to treatment, and how much the cancer has spread.
The overall 5-year survival rate for children ages 0 to 14 with osteosarcoma is 68%. For teens ages 15 to 19, the 5-year survival rate is also 68%. If osteosarcoma is diagnosed and treated before it has spread outside the area where it started, the general 5-year survival rate for people of all ages is 74%. If the cancer has spread outside of the bones and into surrounding tissues or organs and/or the regional lymph nodes, the 5-year survival rate is 66%. If the cancer has spread to distant parts of the body, the 5-year survival rate is 27%.
It is important to remember that statistics on the survival rates for children and teens with osteosarcoma are an estimate. The estimate comes from annual data based on the number of children and teens with this cancer in the United States. Also, experts measure the survival statistics every 5 years. This means the estimate may not reflect the results of advancements in how osteosarcoma in children and teens is diagnosed or treated from the last 5 years. Talk with your child’s doctor if you have any questions about this information. Learn more about understanding statistics.
Statistics adapted from the American Cancer Society website and Seigel R, et al.: Cancer Statistics 2022. CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians. 2022 Jan; 72(1):7–33. doi/full/10.3322/caac.21708. (All sources accessed February 2022.)
The next section in this guide is Medical Illustrations. It offers a drawing of the body parts often affected by osteosarcoma. Use the menu to choose a different section to read in this guide.