Bone cancer
Bone cancer, also called skeletal cancer, is a rare cancer that begins in the cells of your bones. You may need blood tests and imaging studies to diagnose these cancers. Your treatment may include surgery, chemotherapy and radiation.
Bone cancer specialists in Greater Denver
If your skeletal system is compromised by cancer, you need fast, effective and compassionate care.
At HCA HealthONE, our specialists have advanced training in effectively diagnosing and treating all types of bone cancers. We design a personalized treatment plan that fits your needs, supporting you and your family throughout it all.
Related specialties
Learn more about our related specialties.
Types of bone cancer we treat
We treat all types of bone and soft tissue tumors, both benign and malignant, including:
- Adamantinoma bone cancer
- Chondrosarcoma
- Chordoma bone cancer
- Ewing's sarcoma
- Fibrosarcoma
- Giant cell tumors
- Multiple myeloma
- Osteogenic sarcoma
- Osteosarcoma
Bone cancer treatments and services we offer
We offer a wide range of care for bone cancers, working closely with other specialists as needed to ensure you get the most effective treatment plan.
Diagnosing bone cancer
Most bone cancers begin with a concern about a lesion. The lesion is often in an organ or tissue that has suffered damage through injury or disease, such as a wound, ulcer, abscess or tumor. If a lesion is suspected, our multidisciplinary team collaborates to determine whether a biopsy of the lesion is necessary. A biopsy will allow our doctors to find out if bone cancer is present.
If a biopsy is needed, you may have your biopsy administered at our facility, or you may be referred to an interventional radiologist. Most bone biopsies are minimally invasive and completed using a needle. On rare occasion, an open biopsy (surgery) is needed to make a diagnosis. Results from biopsies are typically ready within 48 hours.
Treatment options for bone cancer
We have a variety of bone cancer treatments available to you. Depending on the severity of your condition, these treatments may be used by themselves, or in conjunction with others.
The most common treatments for bone cancer include:
- Chemotherapy
- Radiation therapy
- Surgery
- Chondrosarcoma surgery
- Targeted therapy
Pelvic stabilization
If you have experienced pelvic deterioration due to bone cancer and/or radiation therapy, we hope you can find strength and comfort in a breakthrough surgical technique known as pelvic stabilization.
Percutaneous pelvic stabilization is available at our HCA HealthONE Presbyterian St. Luke's Institute for Limb Preservation location. This revolutionary surgery option offers a better quality of life if you have lost mobility or have pain as a result of diseased or irradiated bone.
Our interventional radiologists and orthopedic surgeons use a minimally invasive approach to treat bone cancer near the pelvic region. Often in combination with radiation therapy, your surgeon will mechanically stabilize the affected area, providing pain relief and improved function for people who traditionally had few palliative options.
About Sarah Cannon Cancer Institute
As part of Sarah Cannon, the Cancer Institute of HCA Healthcare, our family of hospitals provides comprehensive cancer services with convenient access to cutting-edge therapies for people facing cancer in our communities. From diagnosis to treatment and survivorship care, our oncology expertise ensures you have access to locally trusted care with the support of a globally recognized network.
askSARAH helpline
Have cancer questions? We can help. askSARAH is a dedicated helpline for your cancer-related questions. Our specially trained nurses are available 24/7, and all calls are confidential. Contact askSARAH at (303) 253-3225.
Limb-sparing treatment
While we focus on "life over limb," our team will try to spare your limb while treating sarcoma if we determine you're a good candidate. Some of these techniques have been established and advanced by our very own surgeons. Limb-sparing procedures we perform include:
- Allograft
- Custom implant designs
- Foam metal technologies
- Growing prosthetics for children
- Innovative amputation techniques
- Soft-tissue reconstruction options
We also offer limb reconstruction surgery for those people who we determine are a good candidate for it. And if you're in a situation where you need a prosthetic limb, our specialists can help you with that, as well.
Pelvic stabilization
Pelvic deterioration is a significant concern if your pelvic muscles weaken due to having bone cancer. This can also happen if you get radiation therapy for cancer in another part of your body. Our pioneering interventional radiologists created a novel surgical technique to stabilize your hip bones.
Percutaneous pelvic stabilization is a minimally invasive treatment that can improve your quality of life. This might be a good option if you've lost mobility or if you're in constant pain from diseased or exposed bone. Your treatment plan might also include tumor ablation, orthopedic screw stabilization and bone cement.
Cancers that originate in other parts of your body like the breast, prostate, or colon can spread to your bones — weakening them, causing fractures and causing pain. If bone cancer or osteoporosis has destroyed large portions of your bone, our surgeons can use bone cement as a substitute for normal bone. We place screws in the bone that's left and build a bridge between the screws and your healthy bone to rebuild your pelvis.
Benefits of this minimally invasive surgery include:
- Fast recovery
- Minimal scarring
- Short hospital stay
Small incisions