Treatment usually starts after a biopsy of the tumor.

Before major surgery to remove the tumor, chemotherapy is usually given. Chemotherapy is also used to kill or shrink any cancer cells that may have spread to other parts of the body.

Common chemotherapy medicines include:

• Cisplatin
• Carboplatin (Paraplatin)
• Cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan)
• Doxorubicin (Adriamycin)
• High-dose methotrexate with leucovorin
• Ifosfamide (Ifex)

Surgery is used after chemotherapy to remove any remaining tumor. In most cases, surgery can remove the tumor while saving the affected limb (this is called limb-salvage surgery). Rarely, more radical surgery (such as amputation) may be necessary.

Association of Cancer Online Resources -- www.acor.org

Cure Search (formerly the National Childhood Cancer Foundation) --www.curesearch.org

If the tumor has not spread to the lungs (pulmonary metastasis), long-term survival rates are very high. If the cancer has spread to other parts of the body, there is still a good chance of cure with effective treatment.

• Limb removal
• Spread of cancer to the lungs
• Side effects of chemotherapy

Call your health care provider if you have persistent bone pain, tenderness, or swelling.