Chondrosarcoma

This information is written for patients, their families and friends and the general public. It is to help you understand more about a type of primary bone cancer called chondrosarcoma. It explains what chondrosarcoma is, the symptoms, how it is diagnosed and how it is treated.

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Webpage published: Sept 2026. Next review due: Sept 2029.

Chondrosarcoma is a type of primary bone cancer (also called bone sarcoma or tumour). Each year in the UK, around 219 people are diagnosed with chondrosarcoma.

Sarcoma is the name given to a cancer that starts in the ‘connective tissue’. This includes bones, muscles, fat and other soft tissues. Chondrosarcoma is a tumour which starts from cells that make cartilage, but not from cartilage that lines the bony joints, like the knee or hip.

Chondrosarcoma can start from any bone. The skeleton picture below shows the most common places chondrosarcoma can start. These parts of the body are shown in orange: the legs (the thigh bone, or femur, and the shin bone, or tibia), pelvis, upper arm (humerus), ribs and shoulder blades.

In rare cases, chondrosarcomas can also be found in:

the spine or skull
soft tissues near the bones. This is called ‘extraskeletal chondrosarcoma’, since it does not start in the bone

Most chondrosarcomas grow slowly and do not spread quickly. When chondrosarcoma spreads to other parts of the body, it is called ‘metastatic chondrosarcoma’. The type of chondrosarcoma and its grade (how aggressive the cells look under the microscope) will help doctors predict whether it is likely to spread. The most common part of the body that chondrosarcoma spreads to is the lungs. The lesions in the lung are called ‘pulmonary metastases’.

You might hear or read some medical words that do not make sense at first, when learning about primary bone cancer. Our glossary includes these words along with explanations about what they mean.

Overall, chondrosarcoma is the most common type of primary bone cancer.
It makes up around 1 in 3 of all primary bone cancers diagnosed in the UK.
It is the most common type of primary bone cancer in adults. Children are less likely to develop chondrosarcoma.
It is more common in people over 20 years old. It makes up around half of all primary bone cancer cases in people aged 50 to 59.
In high grade chondrosarcoma, women have better outcomes than men. This is because oestrogen has a protective effect. After the age of 55 (post-menopause), this effect is not seen.

Chondrosarcoma can cause a wide range of symptoms. Doctors may call these ‘clinical signs’ or talk about ‘presenting features’ or ‘presenting symptoms’.

Common symptoms of chondrosarcoma include:

bone pain which might be worse at night, happens all the time or stops and starts, is not helped by painkillers and may get worse over time
a lump or swelling, which may be seen or felt if the tumour is near the skin’s surface. Called ‘a palpable mass’
a broken bone caused by weakening of bone due to a tumour, without having had a fall or accident. Called a ‘pathological fracture’
problems moving, may develop a limp, stiff limbs or joints, unable to move as normal

Other possible symptoms may include:

feeling tired or weary (‘lethargy’ or ‘fatigue’)
pain with weakness, tingling and numbness (‘pins and needles’)
weight loss and loss of appetite
if the tumour is on the spine, muscle spasms or muscle weakness

Some people with chondrosarcoma have no pain. The tumour may only be found when a person breaks a bone in a fall or accident, or if the bone has been weakened by the tumour. Sometimes, people may have:

a test for a symptom not related to the chondrosarcoma, and the tumour is found at the same time
other symptoms after a tumour has spread to other parts of the body. You or the doctor may notice these symptoms

People with a chondrosarcoma on the spine may have symptoms that affect the nervous system. These ‘neurological symptoms’ happen because the tumour presses on nerves in the spine. Symptoms may include pain, numbness or tingling, problems with passing urine or opening bowels, muscle spasms and muscle weakness. Chondrosarcoma in the base of the skull can also cause neurological symptoms.

Not everyone will have the same symptoms and chondrosarcoma can affect people in different ways. The symptoms may be mild at first and slowly progress, or they may happen suddenly.

Sometimes, people have symptoms for weeks or months before they are diagnosed. This may be because the symptoms of chondrosarcoma can be quite general and similar to those of other conditions.

You can find more information about the symptoms of bone cancer on our webpage.

Chondrosarcomas belong to a group of tumours called ‘chondrogenic bone tumours’. These chondrogenic tumours may be:

cancerous (malignant), such as chondrosarcoma
non-cancerous (benign)

Chondrosarcoma tumours are further classified into:

Conventional chondrosarcomas: There are 5 types:
- Central atypical cartilaginous tumour (ACT) in the limbs / Central chondrosarcoma grade 1 in the pelvis, shoulder blades and the base of the skull
- Secondary peripheral ACT/ Chondrosarcoma grade 1
- Central chondrosarcoma grades 2 and 3
- Secondary peripheral chondrosarcoma grades 2 and 3
- Periosteal chondrosarcoma
Dedifferentiated chondrosarcoma: This is a rare type of chondrosarcoma.
Mesenchymal chondrosarcoma: This is a rare type of chondrosarcoma.
Clear cell chondrosarcoma: This is a rare type of chondrosarcoma.

Secondary chondrosarcomas develop from an existing non-cancerous (benign) bone tumour.

Conventional chondrosarcoma

Most chondrosarcomas are ‘conventional chondrosarcomas’. Out of all chondrosarcoma cases, 80 to 90 in every 100 are a conventional chondrosarcoma.
It is a slow-growing tumour.
It most commonly affects adults over 50 years old.
It also affects slightly more males than females.

Conventional chondrosarcomas can be further classified based on:

how they look under a microscope (called the ‘grade’)
where they started in the bone

A biopsy is sometimes needed to classify the chondrosarcoma. This is covered in ‘Diagnostic tests’ below.

Most people have low grade conventional chondrosarcomas. They are either atypical cartilaginous tumours (ACTs) or chondrosarcoma grade 1 (CS1), depending on their location.
Around 85 to 90 in every 100 conventional chondrosarcomas are grade 1 tumours or ACTs.
In rarer cases, conventional chondrosarcomas can be grade 2 or 3. These are high grade tumours.
ACT or grade 1 tumours are less likely to recur after surgery and so have a better prognosis.

Conventional chondrosarcomas can affect any bone:

Most conventional chondrosarcomas start inside the bone (‘central’).
A smaller number of conventional chondrosarcomas start:
- on the surface of the bone (‘periosteal’) or
- develop in an existing non-cancerous bone growth (‘secondary peripheral’)
The areas of the body most commonly affected are the thigh bone (the parts nearest to the hip and knee joints called the proximal femur and distal femur), the bones of the pelvis, the shin bone (tibia), the upper arm bone (humerus), and the ribs and shoulder blades.

Dedifferentiated chondrosarcoma

Around 10 in 100 chondrosarcomas are dedifferentiated chondrosarcoma.
It is a fast-growing tumour.
It is more likely to affect older adults. The average age that people are diagnosed is around 60 years.
As well as grade 1 to 2 chondrosarcoma cells, these tumours contain other types of high grade sarcoma cells. If it is high grade and aggressive, it makes it more difficult to treat.
It most commonly starts in the thigh (femur) and pelvis.

Clear cell chondrosarcoma

It is very rare. Around 2 in 100 chondrosarcomas are clear cell chondrosarcoma.
It is a slow-growing tumour.
It is more likely to affect adults, usually aged between 20 to 50 years old.
It affects more males than females.
It is a low grade tumour, which means it is easier to treat.
It often starts in the long bones of the arms or legs.
It is called clear cell chondrosarcoma because the inside of the cells in the tumour look clear under a microscope.

Mesenchymal chondrosarcoma

It is very rare. Around 2 to 4 in 100 chondrosarcomas are mesenchymal chondrosarcoma.
It is a fast-growing tumour.
It is more likely to affect teenagers and young adults.
It is a very aggressive type of chondrosarcoma, which makes it more difficult to treat.
It can start anywhere in the body, either in the bones or soft (non-bony) tissue. Around 7 in 10 mesenchymal chondrosarcomas start in the bone. 3 in 10 start in soft tissue (‘extra-skeletal’). In the bones, mesenchymal chondrosarcoma is most common in the jaw and ribs.
Cells of mesenchymal chondrosarcoma may look like cells of Ewing sarcoma, a type of primary bone cancer. This means that it is sometimes misdiagnosed.

Chondrosarcoma is also sometimes confused with a condition that has a similar name, 'chondroblastic osteosarcoma'. The treatment for chondrosarcoma is different to the treatment for chondroblastic osteosarcoma.

There has been a lot of research into possible causes of chondrosarcoma. But it is still not fully understood. It is known that cells contain important information called ‘genes’. Genes help the cells divide and grow normally. Damage to genes in a single cell can cause it to behave differently and grow abnormally. This can then develop into cancer.

Researchers have found a pair of genes, called ‘IDH1’ and ‘IDH2’, in chondrosarcoma tumours that are often damaged (‘mutated’). These genes have also been found to be damaged in some other cancer types, such as some brain tumours. We do not yet know why these genes become damaged, but we do know that the damage is not inherited (passed on) from your parents.

Doctors do not yet fully understand what causes chondrosarcoma. But there are some things that can increase your chance of getting it. This is called a ‘risk factor’.

Risk factors for chondrosarcoma include:

Existing bone disease

People who have bones which already have something wrong with them (underlying bone disease). These diseases are very rare and include:

Enchondroma: A type of non-cancerous (benign) bone tumour that starts in cartilage
Ollier disease: A disease where non-cancerous (benign) tumours in the bones cause the affected bones to swell and deform. It usually starts in children and young adults under 20 years old. People with Ollier disease have up to a 50 in 100 chance of getting chondrosarcoma. But this depends on the pattern and extent of the tumours. Many people with Ollier disease have mutations in IDH1 or IDH2 genes
Maffucci syndrome: This is a very similar condition to Ollier disease. It causes swellings and deformities of bone. People with Maffucci syndrome have around a 50 in 100 chance of getting chondrosarcoma. Many people with Maffucci syndrome have mutations in IDH1 or IDH2 genes

Inherited conditions

These are risk factors that one or both parents pass on to their child from birth, through their genes (inherited). A very small number of people can inherit a risk from their parents which increases their chance of getting chondrosarcoma.

Multiple osteochondromas, sometimes called ‘Hereditary multiple exostoses’ is a genetic condition. In some cases, it can be caused by a genetic mutation that can happen at any time in life. The condition causes bone growths called ‘osteochondromas’ or ‘exostoses’. People with multiple osteochondromas have up to a 5 in 100 chance of developing chondrosarcoma.

Radiotherapy

People who have had radiotherapy in the past have a slightly higher chance of developing chondrosarcoma in the same area that the radiotherapy was given.

Getting a diagnosis

The symptoms of chondrosarcoma are non-specific. There is no one clear sign that doctors can easily look for to make a diagnosis. Most people go to their doctor if they are worried, and some people go to their local hospital’s emergency department (A&E).

Some people are sent (‘referred’) quickly for more tests or a second opinion. But often, people have to go back to their doctor quite a few times before this happens. Primary bone cancers are very rare and many GPs (General Practitioners) will have very little or no experience of them.

The Bone Cancer Research Trust (BCRT) is trying to find ways to reduce the time between a person noticing symptoms and getting a diagnosis.

Bone cancer centres

If initial tests show that cancer may be present, you will need to go to (be ‘referred’ to) a bone cancer centre. These are special centres where a group of experts in bone cancer will discuss and manage your diagnosis and care together. They are called a multi-disciplinary team (MDT). The MDT may include doctors, nurses, support workers, dieticians, physiotherapists and other experts.

In England, there are 5 bone cancer centres: Birmingham, Newcastle, Oswestry, Oxford, and Stanmore (North London).
In Wales, there are no bone cancer centres. People are usually seen at Oswestry or Birmingham.
In Scotland, there are 3 bone cancer centres: Glasgow, Edinburgh and Aberdeen.
In Northern Ireland, there is a bone cancer centre in Belfast.

These bone cancer centres are shown on the map below:

Find out more in our downloadable resource: Bone cancer centres and hospital treatment centres.

Diagnostic tests

Doctors will carry out several different tests before a diagnosis of chondrosarcoma can be made. These tests may include:

X-ray. This is usually carried out first. It should be done from different angles (in 2 planes) to get a good image of the bone.
blood tests
CT scan
MRI scan
PET scan
biopsy of the tumour

Imaging, such as X-rays and scans, also help doctors to see the size of the tumour and exactly where in the body it is. Scans also check if the cancer has spread to any other parts of the body. This is called ‘staging’.

Taking a biopsy involves taking a small sample of the tumour and examining it under a microscope. A biopsy is not always needed for chondrosarcoma. If you have a biopsy, it will usually be done at a bone cancer centre. Results from a biopsy can take up to 2 weeks to analyse.

Using all the test results, doctors can confirm a diagnosis of chondrosarcoma and decide on a treatment plan.

Visit the Macmillan Cancer Support website to find out more about different types of diagnostic tests and scans.

You may be asked to give a tissue sample for research (tissue banking) and ‘whole genome sequencing’ to contribute to the National Genomic Research Library. By taking part, it may:

help your clinical team get answers which could lead to a diagnosis, access to a different treatment, or an opportunity to take part in clinical trials
identify whether your parents have passed on a predisposition to cancer
help other sarcoma patients and more widely, other cancer patients in the future
help researchers to understand sarcomas better, to improve things for you or others now, or in the future

To find out more, visit Genomics England’s webpage.

When a person has an illness, doctors try to predict how it will affect them. For example, how likely it is that the treatment will work, and how likely it is that the person will be cured. This is called a ‘prognosis’.

Lots of different things are considered when doctors make a prognosis for chondrosarcoma. The main ones are:

where in the body the tumour is, since this can affect which treatments will work best
the size of the tumour
the age and general health of the person
if the chondrosarcoma is at the original (primary) site, or has spread (is metastatic)
the type of chondrosarcoma, as some are more aggressive
the grade of the tumour
whether the tumour can be fully removed with surgery

Because everyone is different, doctors can never be sure how chondrosarcoma will affect each person.

Around 80 in every 100 people with chondrosarcoma are alive 5 years after their diagnosis, but some may still be having treatment. This number can vary, since it depends on the grade of the tumour, location in the body, type of chondrosarcoma and whether the tumour is metastatic (has spread).

It may help to talk about any feelings of anxiety or concern once your diagnosis has been confirmed. Some hospitals offer a ‘Holistic Needs Assessment’. This is where you can chat with someone in your medical team. They will ask you questions about your worries and concerns. It covers all parts of life, not just how the cancer and treatments affect your body. A support plan will be made to help you manage your worries and concerns. You may be offered an assessment around the time of diagnosis, during treatment or after treatment has ended.

If your hospital does not offer a Holistic Needs Assessment, you can still talk to your medical team about any worries or concerns you have. They are there to help.

Where you will be treated

Where you are treated will depend on where the cancer is and a few other things.

You will usually have your surgery at a bone cancer centre. You may have to travel a long way to get there. Take a look at our map of UK bone cancer centres in our downloadable resource: Bone cancer centres and hospital treatment centres.

Chemotherapy (also called ‘chemo’) and radiotherapy for chondrosarcoma is very rare. If you have either of these, they may take place at a bone cancer centre or a different hospital closer to you. Your medical team will talk to you about this, if these treatments are relevant for you.

Who will be involved in treatment

You will be treated by a team of people who are experts in bone cancer. These people will include:

oncologists (a doctor who cares for people with cancer)
surgeons
nurses, including a clinical nurse specialist (CNS)
social workers
support workers
dieticians
physiotherapists
other experts

This group of people is called a ‘multi-disciplinary team’ (MDT). The MDT plan and decide on what treatment and care is best. They should include you in the decision making.

Each person has a clinical nurse specialist (CNS), sometimes called a ‘key worker’. The CNS is a constant point of contact through treatment. They will give support and listen to questions or worries you may have.

Types of treatment

The most effective treatment for chondrosarcoma is surgery to remove the tumour.

In a small number of cases, radiotherapy, proton beam therapy or chemotherapy may be used.

Treatment of cancer should involve you and your doctor working together to find the best care or treatment plan.

Remember, if you are having treatment outside the UK, you may have different tests and treatments. It will depend on the treatment guidelines in your country. If you have any questions about this, talk to your medical team or contact our Support and Information Team.

Surgery

The aim of surgery is to completely remove the primary tumour and keep the body working as normally as possible. This is to stop the tumour from growing back again (‘local recurrence’).

The type of surgery you have will depend on:

the type of chondrosarcoma
where the tumour is
the size of the tumour
if the tumour has grown into nearby tissues or spread to other parts of the body

The surgeon will discuss your options with you. For some people, it is very difficult to remove the tumour. For example, if the tumour is in the pelvis or the spine.

If the tumour has spread to other parts of the body, your oncologist and surgeon may think about removing any secondary tumours by surgery.

Surgery for atypical cartilage tumour (ACT) / low grade chondrosarcoma

ACTs / low grade chondrosarcomas can be treated using different surgical procedures:

Wide resection: The affected area of bone is removed along with some healthy bone and tissue around the tumour. This maximises the chance of removing all the cancer cells.
Curettage: This involves scraping the tumour out of the bone. You may then have treatments such as cryosurgery, where liquid nitrogen is used to freeze remaining cancer cells, or high-speed burring, where a small tool quickly rotates inside the bone.
Allograft: The affected area of bone is removed. Then bone donated by another person is used to reconstruct the bone.
Autograft: The affected area of bone is removed. Then replaced with healthy bone and tissue from another area of the body.
Endoprosthetic replacement: The affected area of bone is removed. The missing bone is replaced with a metal prosthesis.

Surgery for high grade chondrosarcoma

High grade chondrosarcomas can be treated using a ’wide resection’. The affected area of bone is removed along with healthy bone and tissue around the tumour (a ‘wide margin’).

For some high grade chondrosarcomas, it may be possible in some parts of the body to remove the tumour without rebuilding the bone or affecting function.

High grade chondrosarcomas, like dedifferentiated or mesenchymal chondrosarcomas, are more likely to spread (metastasis). This means other treatments like radiotherapy, proton beam therapy (PBT) or chemotherapy may be used but this is rare.

Limb-sparing surgery

If the chondrosarcoma is in a limb (arm or leg), the medical team will do their best to save the limb. This is called ‘limb-sparing surgery’ or sometimes called ‘limb salvage surgery’. The whole tumour is first removed. The space left is replaced with a piece of bone from another part of the body or person, or a metal implant:

Endoprosthetic replacement: The tumour is removed and damaged bone is replaced with a metal implant (an ‘endoprosthesis’). If the tumour is near a joint, the joint may also be replaced. This is a common technique for primary bone cancers of the arms, legs, shoulder or pelvis.
Allograft: The affected area of bone is removed. Then bone donated by another person is used to reconstruct the bone.
Autograft: The affected area of bone is removed. Then replaced with healthy bone and tissue from another area of your body.

If you need limb-sparing surgery, a ‘physiotherapist’ will talk to you about what will happen before and after the operation. They will also talk to you about rehabilitation (also called ‘rehab’). You may also talk to an ‘occupational therapist’. They can talk to you about how you can prepare for day-to-day life after surgery and changes you can make at home to help you move around safely and stay independent.

Rehab is the process of making your body stronger after surgery and learning to live with the changes to your body. The physiotherapist will also give you some exercises to do before the operation. If you still feel weak after your chemo, the exercises will also help you to strengthen your muscles.

You will start rehab very soon after surgery. The physiotherapist will get you to do lots of exercises to help you strengthen your muscles, limbs and get you moving again.

You will have regular check-ups with your surgeon, after surgery. They will check how you are recovering and if the implant or bone graft is working well and is not damaged. They will also check for signs of infection.

Amputation

Sometimes, it is not possible to remove a bone tumour from an arm or leg (limb). In this case, limb-sparing surgery will not work and an ‘amputation’ may be needed instead. This is when all or part of an arm or leg is removed.

An amputation may be needed if the tumour:

has grown into important nerves and, or blood vessels
is in a place where the arm or leg would not work properly after limb-sparing surgery
has not shrunk enough with chemotherapy

If possible, a prosthetic limb will be made for you.

Your multi-disciplinary team (MDT) will talk to you about amputation. They will help you decide whether it is the best treatment for you.

Find out more about amputation on our ‘amputation’ webpage.

Other types of treatment

Radiotherapy

Radiotherapy means treating the tumour with high doses of concentrated radiation. It is not a very effective treatment for most people with chondrosarcoma. But there are times when radiotherapy may be used, such as for those tumours that cannot be safely removed or completely removed by surgery. High-dose radiotherapy is recommended for skull base chondrosarcomas along with surgery.

This webpage from the NHS website shows a video of what happens during radiotherapy.

Proton Beam Therapy (PBT)

PBT is a type of radiotherapy. It delivers a dose of radiation (high energy protons) directly to the tumour and destroys cancer cells. Healthy tissue around the tumour is less likely to be damaged by PBT, than conventional radiotherapy. Sometimes, a higher dose of radiation can be used in PBT without causing more side effects.

Only a small number of people with chondrosarcoma are likely to benefit from PBT.

Chemotherapy

Pre- or post-operative chemotherapy is not used for most people with localised chondrosarcoma. This is because conventional chondrosarcoma does not usually respond to chemotherapy.

There is limited evidence which supports the use of pre- or post-operative chemotherapy for mesenchymal and dedifferentiated chondrosarcoma.

Research shows chemotherapy has limited benefit for metastatic chondrosarcoma.

Your oncologist will talk to you about the best treatment for you and explain what to expect from the treatment.

Tests during treatment

You will have different tests and scans during treatment. These are to check if the treatment is working and for any side effects. Chemotherapy may affect your hearing, heart and kidneys, so these tests are important.

Clinical trials for chondrosarcoma

Since there are few effective treatments for advanced chondrosarcoma, clinical trials are important:

Patients with inoperable conventional chondrosarcoma took part in a clinical trial where they were given an antibody called ozekibart. This antibody activated the destruction of chondrosarcoma cells. This meant it took longer for the cancer to grow and so it had a beneficial effect.
A recent trial has shown benefit for people with advanced dedifferentiated chondrosarcoma when the medicines sunitinib and nivolumab are combined.
For people with advanced conventional chondrosarcoma with tumours with IDH1 mutations, there is an ongoing trial of an IDH1 inhibitor.
At the time of republishing this webpage (Sept 2026), a clinical trial is currently recruiting people with locally advanced or metastatic conventional chondrosarcoma which is untreated or previously treated with one systemic treatment regimen. Visit: bcrt.org.uk/information/clinical-trials/recruiting-clinical-trials/chonquer

You can find out more about clinical trials and which trials are open to chondrosarcoma patients, on our ‘Clinical Trials’ page. You can also contact our Support and Information Team for more information by emailing us or calling 0800 111 4855.

Setbacks

Things may not always go as smoothly as you and the doctors would like. There may be times when you feel really unwell, get an infection or need to have more surgery. These setbacks are a normal part of cancer treatment. People will have different setbacks at different times, but it does not mean the treatment is not working.

It might help to read stories from other people who have been treated for primary bone cancer. We have stories that you can read on our website.

Support after treatment

The end of treatment will come as a welcome relief but it can also be a time of worry and anxiety. You may be worried about the cancer coming back. You may feel lost and alone or be worried about leaving behind the medical team and support network at the hospital. Your family may also feel like this. These are all normal feelings.

You may like to join a support group or contact other people with primary bone cancer, through blogs or on social media. The Support and Information Team at the Bone Cancer Research Trust provide support and information for people affected by primary bone cancer. They can also connect people with others who have experience of primary bone cancer.

Other services are available which offer support, these include:

Psychological support and services: Psychologists support people with any concerns, feelings of anxiety or depression.
Local support groups: Many support groups are organised and run locally. Clinical nurse specialists can usually provide information on local services.
Charitable organisations: There are lots of charities that provide support and information. See our ‘Other useful organisations’ webpage for details about how other organisations can help.

You may also find Macmillan’s information on living with and after cancer useful.

Follow-up care

When you finish treatment, your doctors will want to monitor you for a long time. This is called ‘follow-up care.’

You will need to attend outpatient hospital visits. How often will depend on each person. It might be every 3 months for the first 2 years after finishing treatment, every 6 months in years 3, 4 and 5, and then annually after that.

At these visits doctors will check your general health, talk about any concerns and run some tests to:

check if the cancer has come back (called ‘relapse’ or ‘recurrence’), often with a chest X-ray
check for any ‘late effects’ from the cancer treatment. Find out more about late effects on our ‘Long-term and late effects’ webpage.

These visits can also be useful to talk about any emotional or practical worries or problems you may have.

You may also have follow-up care with a surgical team. They will look out for surgery-related problems.

In-between visits, it is important to get in touch with your key worker or doctor straight away if you have any problems or concerns.

Rehabilitation

During and after treatment, many people benefit from ‘rehabilitation’ or ‘rehab’. This is a form of therapy that helps you regain strength and tackle day-to-day activities.

Rehab services include: 

Physiotherapists: Help people return to an active lifestyle, restoring strength, movement and function. 
Occupational therapists: Help improve people’s ability to do everyday tasks. 
Dieticians: Offer advice on what to eat (nutrition) during and after treatment. 
Prosthetists: Design and create prosthetic limbs for people who have had amputations. 
Orthotists: Provide aids for people who have had surgery, such as splints or special footwear.

You may find it helpful to watch our Support and Information videos about rehab.

Scanxiety

Scan anxiety, or ‘scanxiety’, is the anxiety, worry, or fear you might feel in the lead up to a scan or scan results. These feelings, and any others that might come up, are normal.

During the time between your outpatient visits, you may feel unable to plan for the future, 1 year, or even 3 months ahead. It might help to have medium and long-term goals.

You may find Maggie's information on the fear of cancer returning helpful.

If the chondrosarcoma comes back

Sadly, chondrosarcoma can come back in some people. If the cancer does return, it may feel like the bottom has fallen out of your world, but there are treatments that you can be given.

You may have more surgery, or possibly, radiotherapy or chemotherapy. You may be asked to take part in a clinical trial. Everyone is different and treatments will depend on each person.

Your medical team will talk you through the treatment options in detail.

Advanced chondrosarcoma

Your doctor may have told you that the cancer can no longer be cured. The focus now is to make you comfortable and give you as much time as possible with your loved ones. Your hospital team may talk about palliative care and ways to ensure your pain is managed. They may also talk to you about hospice care. You can ask the team to help direct you to a local hospice or you might like to search for one yourself.

You can find more information on this and coping with your emotions by contacting our Support and Information Team.

The Bone Cancer Research Trust's information has been created using peer reviewed clinical and scientific publications, reviews, case studies and reference books. Peer review is when the work of one scientist or doctor is checked by other experts in the same subject area. This helps make sure the study data is 'reliable'.

If you are interested in reading more, below are some of the key references used to compile our information about chondrosarcoma.

For a full list of references and further reading, or for more information, contact our Support and Information Service. You can also visit our Request Information Materials webpage to order printed resources.

Key references

General information on cancer

The Cell editorial team. Five decades of advances in cancer research. Cell. 2024;187(7):1567-8. [accessed 17 September 2026]. Available from: https://www.cell.com/cell/issue?pii=S0092-8674(23)X0008-7[MC3.1]
Hanahan D, Weinberg RA. Hallmarks of cancer: the next generation. Cell. 2011;144:646-74. [accessed 17 September 2026]. Available from doi: 10.1016/j.cell.2011.02.013
WHO Classification of Tumours Editorial Board. WHO Classification of Tumours: Soft Tissue and Bone Tumours. 5th edition. Lyon: International Agency for Research on Cancer; 2020. p.370-90. ISBN-13: 978-92-832-4502-5
Wood GE, Graves LA, Rubin EM, Reed DR, Riedel RF, Strauss SJ. Bad to the bone: emerging approaches to aggressive bone sarcomas. American Society of Clinical Oncology Educational Book. 2023;43. [accessed 17 September 2026]. Available from doi: 10.1200/EDBK_390306

General information on chondrosarcoma

Chondrosarcoma Foundation [Internet]. [accessed 17 September 2026]. Available from: https://csfshayna.org/
Macmillan Cancer Support. Chondrosarcoma [Internet]. [accessed 17 September 2026]. Available from: https://www.macmillan.org.uk/cancer-information-an...
Thorkildsen J, Myklebust TA. The national incidence of chondrosarcoma of bone: a review. Acta Oncol. 2023;62(2):110-7. [accessed 17 September 2026]. Available from doi: 10.1080/0284186X.2023.2177975
Weinschenk RC, Wang W, Lewis VO. Chondrosarcoma: review article. J Am Acad Orthop Surg. 2021;29:553-62. [accessed 17 September 2026]. Available from doi: 10.5435/JAAOS-D-20-01188
Hastings R, Bacon A, Vinader V, Gains J, McPhail S, Paley L et al. Incidence and survival of primary bone sarcoma diagnosed in England between 1996 and 2020: an analysis from the National Disease Registration Service. Eur J Cancer. 2026;246. [accessed 21 September 2026]. Available from doi: 10.1016/j.ejca.2026.116981

The biology of chondrosarcoma

Tlemsani C, Larousserie F, De Percin S, Audard V, Hadjadj D, Chen J, Biau D, Anract P, Terris B, Goldwasser F, Pasmant E, Boudou-Rouquette P. Biology and management of high-grade chondrosarcoma: an update on targets and treatment options. Int J Mol Sci. 2023;24(2):1361. [accessed 17 September 2026]. Available from doi: 10.3390/ijms24021361
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Chow WA. Chondrosarcoma: biology, genetics, and epigenetics. F1000Res. 2018;7(F1000 Faculty Rev):1826. [accessed 17 September 2026]. Available from doi: 10.12688/f1000research.15953.1

Diagnosing and management of primary bone cancer and chondrosarcoma

Jeys L et al. Identifying consensus and areas for future research in chondrosarcoma. Bone Joint J. 2025;107-B(2):246-52. [accessed 17 September 2026]. Available from doi: 10.1302/0301-620X.107B2
Gerrand C, Amary F, Anwar HA et al. UK guidelines for the management of bone sarcomas. Br J Cancer. 2025;132:32-48. [accessed 17 September 2026]. Available from doi: 10.1038/s41416-024-02868-4
Strauss SJ, Frezza AM, Abecassis N, Bajpai J, Bauer S, Biagini R, Bielack S, Blay JY, Bolle S, Bonvalot S et al. ESMO Guidelines Committee, EURACAN, GENTURIS and ERN PaedCan. Bone sarcomas: ESMO-EURACAN-GENTURIS-ERN PaedCan Clinical Practice Guideline for diagnosis, treatment and follow-up. Ann Oncol. 2021;32(12):1520-36. [accessed 17 September 2026]. Available from doi: 10.1016/j.annonc.2021.08.1995

Treatment of chondrosarcoma

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