Ewing's sarcoma is a cancer of the bone that affects children and adults. It is the most common form of bone cancer in children, occurring most frequently in young people ages 10 to 20. Tumors generally appear in the arms and legs, but they can also develop in the rib cage and pelvic bones.
For patients with tumors that are contained to the original site and that can be removed surgically, the five-year survival rate is 70 percent or better when radiation therapy and chemotherapy are used after surgery.
Ewing's sarcoma causes less bone destruction than other forms of bone cancer, but it is more likely to enter the bloodstream and metastasize. Twenty to 30 percent of tumors have metastasized at the time of diagnosis, making prognosis less promising. Patients whose tumors have metastasized and who are treated with surgery, radiation therapy and chemotherapy have a five-year survival rate of about 20 percent.
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