Bone Cancer Prevention

What is Bone Cancer?

Bone cancer is cancer of the bones. It can begin as a tumor in a bone or it can spread to the bone from another area. Most cases of bone cancer start in other areas. When the cancer spreads to the bones, it is called metastatic cancer, or secondary cancer. It is rare for cancer to start in a person’s bones.

Bone cancer consists of cancerous (malignant) tumors. These destroy bone tissue and can continue to spread. Noncancerous (benign) tumors are often not life threatening.

How Common is Bone Cancer?

Bone cancers make up less than 1% of cancers in the United States. While they can develop at any age, they are more common in children, teenagers and young adults than in older adults.

Symptoms of Bone Cancer

The main symptom of bone cancer is pain. However, not everyone has pain. You also may have swelling in the area where bone cancer exists, fractures, or high levels of calcium in the blood.

How is Bone Cancer Diagnosed?

There are several tests your oncologist may do to look for and diagnose bone cancer. If the doctor finds a tumor, they will need to find out if it is cancerous or not. These tests may include:

Bone Cancer Treatment

Treatment options vary based on the type of bone cancer, the size, and the location. They also depend on your age and overall health. Surgery is the most common form of treatment.

How Often Should I Be Screened for Bone Cancer?

At this time, there are no widely recommended screening tests for bone cancer in people who aren't known to be at increased risk (screening is testing for cancer in people without any symptoms).

Still, most bone cancers are found at an early stage, before they have clearly spread to other parts of the body. Symptoms such as bone pain or swelling often prompt a visit to a doctor.