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Understanding Sarcoma & Bone Cancer: What You Need to Know

  • Writer: Hailey Larson
    Hailey Larson
  • Jul 6, 2025
  • 3 min read

At The Horse of Many Colors, we believe knowledge is not just power—it’s comfort, clarity, and connection. Whether you or someone you love has been touched by sarcoma or bone cancer, we’re here to walk this path with you, sharing helpful information, supportive resources, and gentle encouragement every step of the way.


What Are Sarcomas & Bone Cancers?

Sarcomas are rare malignancies originating in connective tissues—such as bone, muscle, cartilage, fat, blood vessels, and nerves—and make up about 1% of adult cancers and 15% of pediatric cancers.

Primary bone cancers (or bone sarcomas) begin in the bone itself. The most common subtypes are:

  • Osteosarcoma – Starts in bone-forming cells (osteoblasts), typically in long bones of younger patients.

  • Chondrosarcoma – Arises in cartilage cells, usually in adults over 40.

  • Ewing sarcoma – An aggressive cancer common in children and teens, involving bone or adjacent soft tissue.

Bone cancers are much less common than metastatic bone disease, which originates elsewhere in the body.



Signs & Symptoms to Watch For

The signs of bone cancer can be subtle at first and often mistaken for sports injuries or growing pains. That’s why we want to shine a gentle light on the symptoms:

  • Ongoing or worsening bone or joint pain (especially at night)

  • Swelling or a lump near bones or joints

  • Fractures that happen easily, without a major injury

  • Fatigue, fever, or unexplained weight loss in some cases


    If something feels “off” or pain persists, trust your gut and advocate for answers. You know your body (or your child’s) best.


How Is It Diagnosed?

If a doctor suspects bone cancer, they’ll typically start with:

  • Imaging scans: X-rays, MRIs, and CT scans to look at the affected area

  • Biopsy: A small tissue sample is tested to confirm the diagnosis

  • Genetic testing: Helps identify the specific type of sarcoma and tailor treatment

Getting the right diagnosis is essential—it opens the door to the right care, at the right time, with the right team.


What Does Treatment Look Like?

Treatment plans are as unique as the people facing them. The approach may include:

  • Surgery: To remove the tumor, often to save the limb

  • Chemotherapy: Often used before or after surgery, especially in osteosarcoma and Ewing sarcoma

  • Radiation therapy: Sometimes used when surgery isn’t an option

  • Clinical trials & targeted therapies: New treatments are emerging every year

Treatment can be physically and emotionally tough, but no one has to face it alone. There are incredible support teams out there, medical, emotional, and spiritual, ready to walk beside you.


Survivorship and Life After Treatment

Healing doesn’t stop when treatment ends.


Long-term follow-up care is vital, especially for monitoring side effects, emotional wellness, and ongoing health. Many survivors face unique challenges—physical changes, lingering pain, anxiety—but also find new strength, purpose, and connection.

We encourage all survivors to build a survivorship plan (see our previous blog) with their care team and to seek out community, because survivorship is a journey best walked with others.


Support, Resources & Love

You are not alone. Whether you're newly diagnosed, in treatment, or years into survivorship, there is a community for you. Here are some resources to lean on:


Educational & Medical Info


Emotional & Peer Support


Financial Help

To everyone facing sarcoma or bone cancer: We see you. We honor your courage. And we walk beside you.


At The Horse of Many Colors, our mission is to bring Support, Love, and Awareness to every family navigating cancer, no matter the type. We hope this guide gives you clarity and comfort. And we invite you to share it with someone who might need a little extra light today. Help us raise awareness. Share this article on social media or with someone who could benefit from it. Let’s ride together toward hope. 🐎💛


A Quick Look at HOMC’s Story

We were born in 2013 out of a simple act of generosity—a pink guitar auctioned at the Mountain Valley Stampede rodeo to raise money for local cancer families. That night, a seed was planted: What if we could do more? What if we helped everyone, not just those facing one type of cancer?


Today, The Horse of Many Colors continues that mission: offering love, support, and financial relief to families affected by all cancers.

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