What is Osteosarcoma?
Osteosarcoma, MRI, Axial MRI Image Reveals An Ostéosarcoma Of The Right Thighbone. (Photo By BSIP/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)
HOUSTON - Congressman and former Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner has died at the age of 70. Turner was elected to Texas' 18th Congressional District in November. He previously served as a Texas state representative for more than two decades and the mayor of Houston for eight years.
In 2022, Turner was diagnosed with Osteosarcoma in his jaw. He had surgery to remove the cancer and received six weeks of radiation treatment.
Rep. Sylvester Turner, former Houston mayor, dies at 70
Congressman and former Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner has died.
What is Osteosarcoma?
Osteosarcoma is a bone cancer. It tends to happen most often in teenagers and young adults, but it can also happen in younger children and older adults.
Osteosarcoma can start in any bone. It's most often found in the long bones of the legs, and sometimes the arms.
According to the Moffitt Cancer Center, approximately 6% to 7% of osteosarcoma cases occur in the jawbone.
Jaw osteosarcoma generally develops 10 to 20 years after adolescence, is less likely to spread and there are higher survival rates.
Symptoms of Osteosarcoma
Osteosarcoma in the jaw signs and symptoms most often start in a bone with pain, tingling and ulcerations.
What causes Osteosarcoma?
It's not clear what causes osteosarcoma, but the Mayo Clinic says it happens when bone cells develop changes in their DNA.
The Source: Information in this article is from The Mayo Clinic, Moffitt Cancer Center and previous FOX 26 Houston coverage.