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