| Cancer of the bone or bone cancer is a | | | | pain. However, symptoms may vary depending on |
| general term used when cancer cells are seen | | | | the location and size of the cancer. |
| in the bone. Cancer that begins in the bone | | | | Sometimes firm, slightly tender lump on the |
| is called primary bone cancer. It is found | | | | bone can be felt through the skin. Sometimes |
| most often in the arms and legs but it can | | | | it interferes with normal movements and can |
| occur in any bone in the body. Children and | | | | also weaken or cause bones to break. Tumors |
| young people are more likely than adults to | | | | that occur in or near joints may cause |
| have bone cancers. | | | | swelling and tenderness in the affected area. |
| | | | Other symptoms may include fatigue, fever, |
| Primary bone cancers are called sarcomas. | | | | weight loss, and anemia. It is important to |
| There are several different types of sarcoma | | | | check with a doctor when you experience these |
| and each type begins in a different kind of | | | | symptoms, but these symptoms can also be |
| bone tissue. The most common sarcomas are | | | | caused by other less serious conditions. |
| osteosarcoma, Ewing's sarcoma, and | | | | |
| chondrosarcoma. | | | | Treatment for some bone tumors may involve |
| | | | surgery, such as limb amputation. |
| In young people, the most common type of bone | | | | Chemotherapy and radiotherapy are effective |
| cancer is osteosarcoma, usually occurring | | | | in some tumors (such as Ewing's sarcoma) but |
| between the ages of ten and twenty-five. More | | | | less so in others (such as chondrosarcoma). |
| often, males are affected than females. | | | | After treatment has been done for bone |
| Osteosarcoma frequently starts in the ends of | | | | cancer, it is very important that regular |
| the bones; where new bone tissue forms as a | | | | follow-up or check-ups are done with your |
| young person grows, usually affecting the | | | | doctor, to be sure that cancer has not come |
| long bones of the arms and legs. Ewing's | | | | back and treat it promptly if it does. |
| sarcoma usually affects teenagers, and is | | | | Check-ups may be physical exam, x-rays, |
| mostly found in people between ten and | | | | scans, blood tests, and other laboratory |
| twenty-five years old. This cancer forms in | | | | tests. |
| the middle part (shaft) of large bones and | | | | |
| most often affects the hip bones and long | | | | People who have been diagnosed of this |
| bones in the thigh and upper arm, but can | | | | disease may have many physical, emotional, |
| also occur in the ribs. Chondrosarcoma is a | | | | practical worries. They may worry that |
| type of tumor that forms in the cartilage | | | | removal of a limb or other surgery will |
| (rubbery tissue around the joints) and are | | | | affect not only how they look but how other |
| found mainly in adults. Other types of bone | | | | people would feel about them. Patients can be |
| cancer include fibrosarcoma (malignant giant | | | | helped to overcome all these through special |
| cell tumor) and chordoma. These are rare | | | | support groups for youngsters with cancer and |
| cancers and most often affects people over | | | | their families. The American Cancer Society, |
| thirty. | | | | for example, is a nonprofit organization that |
| | | | has many services for patients and their |
| The most common symptom of the disease is | | | | familes. |