Bone cancer symptoms

Primary bone cancer, which is cancer that begins in bones, is very rare. Other types of cancer can spread to bones. Knowing the early signs of bone cancer may help a person get a prompt diagnosis and improve their outlook. The Depending on the location of the cancer, a person may also develop other symptoms, such as Bone cancer is not a single type of cancer. Rather, it is a group of cancers that include: • • • chondrosarcoma • Ewing sarcoma • some rarer cancers The cancer’s name indicates where the cancer begins. This article details the early signs of bone cancer. It will also discuss the causes and risk factors, treatment options, and when to contact a doctor. Share on Pinterest nayneung1/Getty Images The most common early symptoms of bone cancer include: • Pain: Bone cancer often causes pain where the tumor is growing. The pain may only be occasional at first. It may get worse when a person uses the bone, such as when someone with a tumor in their arm lifts something. The pain may become more constant with time. • Broken bones: Bone cancer can weaken the bones, causing them to • Swelling: Some cancers cause the tissue surrounding the bone to swell. A person might notice a lump or swollen spot. • Weakness: Bone cancers that affect the spine may put pressure on the spinal cord. This can cause weakness or tingling. • Fatigue: Like other cancers, bone cancer can cause unexplained • Weight loss: Cancer sometimes causes sudden, unintentional weight loss. These symptoms can o...

Outreach Programs • Outreach Programs • Home • • • Apply to SHP Choose from 12 allied health programs at School of Health Professions. Research Trainees View open postdoctoral and other research trainee positions. GME Fellowships Learn about our graduate medical education residency and fellowship opportunities. Top Bone cancer symptoms vary from person to person. They also depend on the size and location of the cancer. If you have symptoms of bone cancer, they may include: • Pain • Swelling or tenderness in or near a joint • Difficulty with normal movement • Fatigue • Fever • Weight loss • Anemia (low red blood cell count) • Fractures Having one or more of these symptoms does not mean you have bone cancer. However, it is important to discuss any symptoms with your doctor, since they may indicate other health problems.

Symptoms of bone cancer can be a bit tricky to pin down at first because these types of symptoms are much more commonly caused by noncancerous conditions such as sports injuries or joint problems, including forms of arthritis. Additionally, symptoms of bone cancer vary and can depend on factors such as the location and type of tumor. • Limping if the tumor is in the leg or • Trouble moving, lifting, or walking • Pain, tenderness,growth, and/or swelling close to a joint • Warmth and redness in the affected area • A broken bone at the site of the tumor; the bone may break with routine, normal movement • Sudden, severe pain in a bonethat had been sore for weeks or months About half of all osteosarcomas start in the region around the knee. The most frequent starting point is near the end of the • The most commonly affected bones of the head and neck are the jawbone, followed by the upper mouth portion of the skull (maxilla). Osteosarcomas of the other skull bones are extremely rare. • Cancers that develop in the bones of the neck may cause a mass to develop and enlarge in the back of the throat, which may result in difficulty swallowing or breathing. • Cancer in the bones of the spine can enlarge to press on nerves, causing numbness, tingling, or muscle weakness. Multifocal Sclerosing Osteosarcomas Multifocal sclerosing osteosarcoma is a condition in which multiple tumors in the skeleton are present at diagnosis. Each tumor looks like it’s the original site of disease, suggest...

Diagnosis Imaging tests can help determine the location and size of bone tumors, and whether the tumors have spread to other parts of the body. The types of imaging tests recommended depend on your individual signs and symptoms. Tests may include: • Bone scan • Computerized tomography (CT) • Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) • Positron emission tomography (PET) • X-ray Needle or surgical biopsies Your doctor may recommend a procedure to remove a sample of tissue (biopsy) from the tumor for laboratory testing. Testing can tell your doctor whether the tissue is cancerous and, if so, what type of cancer you have. It can also reveal whether the tumor cells are growing quickly or slowly. Types of biopsy procedures used to diagnose bone cancer include: • Inserting a needle through your skin and into a tumor. During a needle biopsy, your doctor inserts a thin needle through your skin and guides it into the tumor. Your doctor uses the needle to remove small pieces of tissue from the tumor. • Surgery to remove a tissue sample for testing. During a surgical biopsy, your doctor makes an incision through your skin and removes either the entire tumor or a portion of it. Determining the type of biopsy you need and the particulars of how it should be performed requires careful planning by your medical team. Doctors need to perform the biopsy in a way that won't interfere with future surgery to remove bone cancer. For this reason, ask your doctor for a referral to a team of doctors with ex...

Bone cancer occurs when a tumor, or atypical mass of tissue, forms in a bone. These are called bone sarcomas. A tumor may be malignant, which means it’s growing aggressively and spreading to other parts of the body. A Bone cancer can begin in any bone in your body, but it most commonly starts in the pelvic bone or the long bones in your legs or arms, such as your shinbone, femur, or upper arm. Cancer that begins in the bones is uncommon. However, it can be aggressive, so early detection is important. Cancer may also begin in another area of the body and spread to the bone. Cancer is usually named for the location where it starts. Primary bone cancers are the most serious of all bone cancers. They form directly in the bones or surrounding tissue, such as cartilage. Cancer can also spread, or metastasize, from another part of your body to your bones. This is known as Common types of primary bone cancers include: Osteosarcoma (osteogenic sarcoma) Share on Pinterest Illustration by Sophia Smith The long bones of your body — such as your arms and legs — and the pelvis are commonly affected. Chondrosarcoma Chondrosarcoma most commonly begins in the bones of the pelvis, thigh areas, and shoulders of older adults. It forms in the subchondral tissue, which is the tough connective tissue between your bones. These tumors are Multiple myeloma However, it’s not considered a primary bone cancer because it begins in the plasma cells. It occurs when cancer cells grow in the bone marrow an...

Signs of bone cancer While not all bone cancers cause symptoms, some cancerous tumors may grow and press on healthy tissue, which may lead to the symptoms listed below. Bone pain What does bone pain feel like? Bone pain can cause a dull or deep ache in a bone or bone region (e.g., back, pelvis, legs, ribs, arms).Bone pain feels different than muscle or joint pain. It's typically felt more deeply in the body or limbs, and it's often sharper, more intense and more regionally focused than muscle pain, which tends to be felt more broadly throughout a specific area of the body. Bone pain also tends to last longer and is rarer than joint or muscle pain. Swelling or a lump The area where the bone pain is localized may begin to show signs of swelling, or a lump or mass may be present. This may especially be true for cancers that form in the bones of the neck, which may cause swelling that forms into a lump or mass in the back of the throat, leading to difficulty swallowing, eating or breathing. Bone fractures Cancerous cells can weaken the bone, and this may sometimes result in a fracture. The break may occur in an area of the bone that had previously been sore or painful for a period of time. Decreased mobility In some cases, if the location of the tumor is near a joint, it may make normal movements difficult or painful. A tumor located around the knee, for example, may interfere with the ability to bend, flex or even put pressure on that joint, making it difficult to walk or mov...

Share on Pinterest STEVE GSCHMEISSNER/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY/Getty Images Symptoms of bone cancer can vary depending on the location and stage of the cancer. Some people may not experience any symptoms in the early stages of the disease. Symptoms may also depend on the type of bone cancer. For example, It is important to note that other conditions can also cause these symptoms. A person should contact a doctor if they are experiencing possible bone cancer symptoms. Treatment and management of bone cancer symptoms will depend on the type and stage of the cancer and the person’s overall health and preferences. The main treatment options for bone cancer • Surgery: Surgery can remove the cancerous tumor and repair or rebuild the affected bone. Depending on the location and size of the tumor, surgery may • Radiation therapy: • Chemotherapy: • Targeted therapy: Targeted therapy is a treatment that uses drugs to • Pain management: Pain management is important in treating and managing bone cancer symptoms. A doctor may recommend pain-relieving medications, such as Bone cancer forms in the cells of the bones. Symptoms of bone cancer include persistent or worsening pain in a bone or joint, a lump or swelling in a bone or joint, a fracture that occurs with minimal trauma, fatigue, weight loss, fever or chills, and anemia. Treatment and management of bone cancer will depend on the type and stage of the cancer and the person’s overall health and preferences. A person should contact a do...

What Is Bone Cancer? Bone cancer is rare. Most bone tumors are benign, which means they aren’t • Osteochondroma is the most common. It often happens in people under age 20. • Giant cell tumor is usually in your leg. In rare cases, these can also be cancerous. • Osteoid osteoma often happens in long bones, usually in your early 20s. • Osteoblastoma is a rare tumor that grows in your • Enchondroma usually appears in bones of your hands and Primary Bone Cancer Primary bone cancer, or bone • Osteosarcoma often forms around your • Ewing's sarcoma usually happens in people between the ages of 5 and 20. Your ribs, pelvis, leg, and upper arm are the most common sites. It can also start in the soft tissue around your bones. • Chondrosarcoma happens most often in people between ages 40 and 70. Your hip, pelvis, leg, arm, and Although it happens in your bones, Secondary Bone Cancer Cancers that commonly spread to bone include: • • • Bone Cancer Risk Factors Things that might make you more likely to get bone cancer include: • Cancer treatment. Bone tumors happen more often in people who’ve had radiation, stem cell transplants, or certain chemotherapy drugs for other cancers. • Inherited conditions. Diseases passed down through your genes, such as Li-Fraumeni syndrome and an eye cancer called retinoblastoma, can make you more likely to get bone cancer. • Paget’s disease of bone. This benign bone condition may also increase your odds. Bone Cancer Symptoms You may not notice symptoms of ...