CLEVELAND — It’s a grueling disease and a rare cancer. Osteosarcoma affects around 1,000 young adults and teens in the United States every year, according to the Mayo Clinic.

What You Need To Know

  • Osteosarcoma affects around 1,000 young adults and teens in the United States every year, according to the Mayo Clinic

  • Ohio State football player Avery Henry announced on Twitter that he has the disease

  • An osteosarcoma survivor founded the non-profit organization MIB Agents, providing patient support and funding for research

  • MIB Agents teams up with doctors across the country, including ones at Cleveland Clinic

In fact, this past December, Ohio State football player Avery Henry announced on Twitter that he has the disease.

“You’re going through very powerful and highly toxic chemotherapies,” said Ann Graham, an osteosarcoma survivor and founder of the non-profit organization MIB Agents. 

Graham said she was training for a marathon back in 2010, at the age of 43, when her leg started to her. At first, she said she simply thought the pain was due to her training and age, but then the pain intensified. An MRI discovered a tumor on Graham’s leg.

Thankfully, Graham’s condition got better and she beat the grueling disease. Unfortunately, some others aren’t as lucky.

“I thought we have to do better,” Graham said, regarding her motivation to start MIB Agents, which provides support programs for patients, education for families and helps raise money for osteosarcoma research and better treatment options.

“We’re dealing with over 40-year-old treatments,” she said. 

Graham has teamed up with Dr. Matteo Trucco, a pediatric oncologist at the Cleveland Clinic. 

Dr. Trucco specializes in the treatment of sarcomas. He said he’s currently designing clinical trials to better treat diseases like osteosarcoma. 

“There is such a need for improving therapy for tumors like osteosarcoma,” Dr. Trucco said. “You’re there through these very difficult times, and your job is to help them through it,” he said.