Bone Cancer

Summary

Cancer that starts in a bone is uncommon. Cancer that has spread to the bone from another part of the body is more common.

There are three types of bone cancer:

• Osteosarcoma – occurs most often between ages 10 and 19. It is more common in the knee and upper arm.
• Chondrosarcoma – starts in cartilage, usually after age 40
• Ewing’s sarcoma – occurs most often in children and teens under 19. It is more common in boys than girls.

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. Because bone cancer can come back after treatment, regular follow-up visits are important.

NIH: National Cancer Institute

National Cancer Institute

Patient Handouts

• After chemotherapy – discharge Medical Encyclopedia
• Bone lesion biopsy Medical Encyclopedia
• Bone tumor Medical Encyclopedia
• Ewing sarcoma Medical Encyclopedia
• Osteosarcoma Medical Encyclopedia

Find an Expert

• American Cancer Society American Cancer Society
• Find a Cancer Doctor American Society of Clinical Oncology
• National Cancer Institute National Cancer Institute

Diagnosis and Tests

• Bone Biopsy Radiological Society of North America
• Bone Cancer Stages American Cancer Society
• Bone Scan Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
• Stages of Ewing Sarcoma National Cancer Institute
• Tests for Bone Cancer American Cancer Society
• TP53 Genetic Test National Library of Medicine

Specifics

• Bone Metastasis Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
• General Information about Ewing Sarcoma National Cancer Institute
• General Information about Osteosarcoma and Undifferentiated Pleomorphic Sarcoma (UPS), Formerly Called Malignant Fibrous Histiocytoma (MFH) of Bone National Cancer Institute
• Metastatic Bone Disease American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons

Encyclopedia

• Bone scan Medical Encyclopedia
• Bone x-ray Medical Encyclopedia
• Joint x-ray Medical Encyclopedia
• Thoracic spine x-ray Medical Encyclopedia

Start Here

• Bone Tumor American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons
• Primary Bone Cancer National Cancer Institute
• What Is Bone Cancer? American Cancer Society

Statistics and Research

• Cancer of the Bone and Joint National Cancer Institute
• What’s New in Bone Cancer Research? American Cancer Society

Children

• Childhood Cancer: Osteosarcoma Nemours Foundation
• Childhood Chordoma Treatment National Cancer Institute

Genetics

• Chordoma: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
• Ewing sarcoma: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
• Li-Fraumeni syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine

Clinical Trials

• ClinicalTrials.gov: Bone Neoplasms National Institutes of Health
• ClinicalTrials.gov: Osteosarcoma National Institutes of Health
• ClinicalTrials.gov: Sarcoma, Ewing National Institutes of Health

Treatments and Therapies

• Drugs Approved for Bone Cancer National Cancer Institute
• Surgery for Bone Cancer American Cancer Society
• Treatment Option Overview (Ewing Sarcoma) National Cancer Institute
• Treatment Option Overview (Osteosarcoma) National Cancer Institute

Living With

• Living as a Bone Cancer Survivor American Cancer Society

Journal Articles

• Bone cancer

Prevention and Risk Factors

• Risk Factors for Bone Cancer American Cancer Society