Chondrosarcoma

Chondrosarcoma is a type of primary bone cancer (also called bone sarcoma). Sarcomas are rare cancers that develop in the supporting tissues of the body. Supporting tissues include bone, cartilage, tendons, fat and muscle.

There are 2 main types of sarcoma:

• bone sarcoma (also called primary bone cancer)
• soft tissue sarcoma.

Primary bone cancer can develop in any bone in the body. It can also develop in the soft tissue near bones.

Chondrosarcoma is one of the more common types of primary bone cancer. It is a cancer of the cartilage cells. Cartilage is a tough but flexible tissue that covers the ends of the bones, where they meet at the joints. Cartilage cushions the joints and allows the ends of the bones to move smoothly over one another.

Chondrosarcoma usually grows in a bone or on its surface. It can happen at any age but is more common in people over the age of 40. It is slightly more common in men than women.

The most common bones affected are the:

• upper arm (humerus)
• thigh (femur)
• pelvis
• shoulder blade (scapula)
• rib
• spine.

There are different types of chondrosarcoma. Your cancer doctor or specialist nurse will explain more about the type you have. The different types may be treated differently.

The exact causes of chondrosarcoma are not known.

People who have had a rare non-cancerous (benign) bone tumour called a chondroma or osteochondroma have a slightly higher risk of developing a chondrosarcoma.

Another rare condition called Ollier’s disease can also increase the risk of chondrosarcoma. Ollier’s disease is also known as enchondromatosis.

People with rare genetic conditions called hereditary multiple exostoses (HME) and Maffucci syndrome are slightly more likely to develop a chondrosarcoma.

The results of your tests give your cancer doctor information about the stage and grade of the cancer.

The stage of the cancer refers to its size and whether it has spread outside the bone.

The grade of the cancer is how the cancer cells look under the microscope. This gives doctors an idea of how quickly a cancer may grow and develop. Your cancer doctor or specialist nurse will explain how it may help plan your treatment.

The most common grading system for primary bone cancer uses the following 3 grades:

• Grade 1 - cancer cells are low-grade and look like normal bone cells. They are usually slow-growing and less likely to spread.
• Grade 2 - cancer cells are high-grade and look abnormal. The cells are likely to grow more quickly and are more likely to spread.
• Grade 3 - cancer cells are high-grade and look more abnormal than grade 2. This means the cancer is more likely to come back (recur) or spread to other parts of the body.

Chondrosarcomas are usually low-grade tumours. They can sometimes develop into a high-grade type of bone sarcoma called a de-differentiated chondrosarcoma. These grow more quickly than grade 3 chondrosarcomas.

There are some other rare types of chondrosarcoma which behave differently.

We have more information about staging and grading bone cancer. Your cancer doctor or specialist nurse will explain how it may help plan your treatment.

After you finish treatment, you will have regular check-ups for a few years. This will include chest x-rays. You may also have scans and blood tests.

If you have any problems, or notice any new symptoms in between your regular follow-up appointments, tell your cancer doctor as soon as possible.

A small number of people have side effects that continue after treatment. This will vary depending on the size and position of the tumour and the treatment. You may have rehabilitation to help you recover and manage any side effects.

Sometimes side effects develop after treatment and some may happen many years later. Your cancer doctor or specialist nurse will explain more about any possible late effects and what can help to manage them. Always tell them if side effects are not improving.

Cancer and its treatment can sometimes affect your sex life. There are ways to help your sexual well-being and to manage any problems.

Cancer and its treatment may cause changes to your body that affect your body image. There are things that can help you to cope with these changes.

Treatment for sarcoma may affect your fertility. If you are worried about your fertility it is important to talk with your doctor before you start treatment. We have more information about:

• getting pregnant after treatment
• making someone else pregnant after treatment
• LGBTQ+ people and cancer treatment.

Even if you already have a healthy lifestyle, you may choose to make some positive lifestyle changes after treatment.

Making small changes such as eating well and keeping active can improve your health and well-being and help your body recover.

After finishing treatment, you may still be coping with difficult feelings. Talking to your family and friends or health professionals about how you feel can help to support your well-being.

Organisations such as Sarcoma UK and the Bone Cancer Research Trust can provide information and support. Cancer52 works to improve the quality of life for people with rare cancers.

We understand that showing any symptoms of what could be cancer is worrying. The most important thing is to speak to your GP as soon as possible. We're also here if you need someone to talk to. You can:

• call the Macmillan Support Line on 0808 808 00 00
• chat to our specialists online.