A prosthesis is a artificial body part that replaces a natural one. If you have been diagnosed with a type of bone cancer (osteosarcoma, Ewing's sarcoma), you may need a prosthesis.

Treatment of your disease may require one of two types of surgery:

• You may have a limb salvage procedure, in which the bone containing the tumor and some of the surrounding tissues are removed. It will be replaced with either a bone graft or a metal (usually titanium) rod, a type of prosthesis.
• If your tumor has spread beyond the bone to the nerves and blood vessels, amputation of some or your entire limb might be necessary. You will be fitted with an artificial limb or prosthesis.

Such great improvements have been made to prostheses that many teens are able to return to their normal activities, including most sports.