Cancers of the bone and connective tissue are very rare. But Froedtert & The Medical College of Wisconsin provides specialists in these diseases to ensure the best care.

Unique Expertise

Bone and connective tissue malignancies account for approximately one percent of all new cases of cancer. Cancers of the bone and connective tissue are so uncommon, but physicians of the Bone and Connective Tissue Cancer Program at Froedtert & The Medical College of Wisconsin focus on treating patients with bone and connective tissue tumors to ensure the best outcomes. They treat hundreds of patients per year, so they understand the intricacies of these diseases and are completely up to date on the latest specialized therapies.

Facts About Bone and Connective Tissue Cancer

Cancers of the bone and connective tissue affect people of all ages, and they can occur at any location throughout the body. They include tumors that develop in bone, muscle, tendons, nerves, blood vessels and fat.

Common bone and connective tissue tumors include:

Bone and connective tissue sarcomas
Bone lymphomas
Multiple myeloma
Carcinomas that have spread to bone or connective tissue
Fibromatosis (desmoid tumors)

The vast majority of primary bone and connective tissue cancers are curable. A patient’s individual prognosis will depend on the size, histologic grade and location of the tumor and whether the cancer has spread to other parts of the body.

Treatment usually includes surgical removal combined with radiation therapy and chemotherapy. For some patients, treatment might include minimally invasive interventional procedures, including techniques that heat or freeze the tumor or deliver targeted radiation doses.

A Frequently Misdiagnosed Cancer

According to the National Cancer Institute, sarcomas located in body organs are hard to distinguish from other kinds of cancer and are frequently misdiagnosed. Learn more.

Physician Team Provides Comprehensive Care

The Bone and Connective Tissue Cancer Program features a complete team of physician specialists with in-depth experience in treating these rare cancer diseases. Team members include:

Orthopaedic surgeons with advanced fellowship training in bone and connective tissue cancers
Medical oncologists and radiation oncologists skilled in treating bone and connective tissue malignancies
Specialists in musculoskeletal oncology, radiology and pathology

Patients also have access to interventional radiologists who provide services through our Image Guided Therapy Program; surgical specialists in our Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Program; and a rehabilitation medicine team that specializes in working with cancer patients.

Every year, the Bone and Connective Tissue Cancer Program treats hundreds of patients with these rare malignancies. Because the care team sees so many patients with bone and connective tissue cancers, they have an in-depth understanding of the disease processes and latest treatments. Learn more about our exceptional staff.

Complete Coordination and Full Support

The physician team meets regularly to discuss every patient in the Bone and Connective Tissue Cancer Program. Working closely together, these specialists ensure that each patient receives completely coordinated care that takes advantage of every appropriate treatment option.

The nurse coordinator for the Bone and Connective Tissue Cancer Program works with every patient to coordinate all physician consultations, tests, treatments, follow-up care and support services.

The team encourages patients to participate actively in decision making. Because of the rarity of bone and connective tissue cancers, treatment paths are not always well defined. Patient and family involvement in looking at options and recommendations is important for identifying the best overall treatment plan.

Patients in the program are often eligible to take part in clinical trials that provide access to new therapies and treatment approaches.

Where to Go

Patients in the Bone and Connective Tissue Cancer Program see all their team physicians and nurses in the “Courage” quadrant of the Clinical Cancer Center.

The Hub Model

The Clinical Cancer Center's hub model builds the entire care experience around patients. Dedicated program coordinators answer questions, address concerns, coordinate treatment and help you along in your journey.

Prompt Access to Physicians

The physicians of the Bone and Connective Tissue Cancer Program have made a commitment to providing patients with prompt access to consultation and treatment. Whenever possible, new patients will be seen within one week of referral.

To learn more about the Bone and Connective Tissue Cancer Program or make an appointment, please contact us online or call 414-805-0505 (toll-free 866-680-0505).

Last Review Date: June 4, 2008

Online Editor(s): Rich Petre