The Bone Cancer Research Trust is calling for new treatments for bone
cancers affecting children and young people. This includes osteosarcoma and
Ewing’s sarcoma, the two most common forms of primary bone cancer.

A study funded by the Bone Cancer Research Trust published in 2009 shows
that the survival of children and young adults with bone cancer in the UK has
not improved for 20 years.(1) More research is urgently needed to find new
treatments. When new treatments are developed, they must be introduced
without delay to avoid any more young people dying of this disease. On
average a young person cured of this disease would have another 60 years of
life.

One new treatment for osteosarcoma that improves survival is currently
being considered for funding by NICE. BCRT is asking that this drug be made
available as quickly as possible.

Michael Francis, chairman of the BCRT said ‘Too many of the children and
young people with bone cancer still die from their disease. We need to make
bone cancer a priority and we urgently need more research to identify
effective new treatments. The Government needs to play its part and
streamline the process for introducing new treatments into the UK.’

To support people affected by bone cancer, the Bone Cancer Research Trust
is holding an Awareness Week during 20 - 27 June 2009. The theme for the week
is the need to improve survival for these young people: this means greater
priority, more research and new treatments. The week will finish with the 3rd
Conference for bone cancer patients and their supporters, to be held in St
Albans on Saturday 27 June. The conference will cover recent research and
will give patients and their families the opportunity to question experts in
bone cancer.

Twenty eight year old Hannah Millington, from Bromsgrove, who has been
treated for osteosarcoma says, “‘Awareness Week and the Patients’ and
Supporters’ Conference are key events for patients. They are an opportunity
to raise awareness about this awful disease and to meet other people who are
affected. Bone cancer is quite rare and it is easy for young people with the
illness to feel extremely isolated.”

The Awareness Week is supported by, the Teenage Cancer Trust, Sarcoma UK,
Cancer 52 and the Rarer Cancers Forum.

Reference

(1): Incidence and survival of childhood bone cancer in northern England
and the West Midlands, 1981-2002. Eyre et al. British Journal of Cancer.
Volume 100, Issue 1. January, 2009

About bone cancer

The two commonest forms of bone cancer are osteosarcoma and Ewing’s
sarcoma. Both of these cancers most commonly occur between the ages of 10 and
25. Because these cancers can spread to other parts of the body, even when
the tumour is detected at a very small size, treatment includes chemotherapy.
Chemotherapy is intended to destroy the tumour cells which have spread to the
rest of the body and to shrink the main mass of tumour cells. Successful
treatment also requires another form of treatment to the main mass of tumour.
For osteosarcoma this is usually surgery to remove the main tumour and may
involve replacing the affected bone with a metal alternative or amputation.
Ewing’s sarcoma is similarly often treated with surgery, but treatment also
includes radiotherapy which is intended to kill any residual cells. Around
400 patients are diagnosed each year in the UK with primary bone cancers.

Source
Bone Cancer Research Trust

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