Bone Cancer

Cancer that starts in a bone is uncommon. Cancer that has spread to the bone from another part of the body is more common. The term "bone cancer" does not include cancers that begin elsewhere in the body and spread (metastasize) to the bone. Instead, those cancers are named for where they began, such as breast cancer that has metastasized to the bone.

There are three types of bone cancer:

• Osteosarcoma is the most common type of bone cancer. It occurs most often between ages 10 and 19. It can also occur in adults older than 65 years. It frequently occurs at the ends of long bones, but it can form in any bone.
• Chondrosarcoma is an uncommon form of bone cancer. It begins in cartilage in the pelvis, legs, and arms and usually occurs after age 40.
• Ewing's sarcoma occurs most often in children, teens, and young adults. It is more common in boys than girls. Ewing sarcoma tumors usually form in the hip bones, the ribs, or in the middle of long bones. Ewing tumors are most common in bone but can also form in soft tissue.

The most common symptom of bone cancer is pain. Other symptoms vary, depending on the location and size of the cancer. Surgery is often the main treatment for bone cancer. Other treatments may include amputation, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy. Bone cancer can recur after treatment, so regular follow-up visits are important.

The cause of most bone cancers is unclear. In general, cancer begins as an error in a cell's DNA that tells the cell to grow and divide in an uncontrolled way. These cells continue to live, rather than dying at a set time. The accumulating mutated cells form a mass (tumor) that can invade nearby structures or spread to other areas of the body.

Certain risk factors can increase the chance of developing bone cancer:

• Inherited genetic syndromes. Certain rare genetic syndromes passed through families increase the risk of bone cancer, including Li-Fraumeni syndrome and hereditary retinoblastoma.
• Paget's disease of bone. Most commonly occurring in older adults, Paget's disease of bone can increase the risk of bone cancer developing later.
• Radiation therapy for cancer. Exposure to large doses of radiation, such as those given during radiation therapy for cancer, increases the risk of bone cancer in the future.

See your doctor for persistent bone pain, swelling or tenderness near a bone, or a bone that breaks unexpectedly. Have any lasting or unexplained symptom checked.