| Pain in the affected bone is the most common | | | | treatment is safe for patients and effective against |
| complaint of patients with bone cancer. At first, the | | | | the disease. |
| pain is not constant and may be worse at night or | | | | Treatment options depend on the type, size, location, |
| when the bone is used (example is leg pain when | | | | and stage of the cancer, as well as the person's age |
| walking). As the cancer grows, the pain will be there | | | | and general health. |
| all the time. The pain increases with activity and may | | | | Although amputation of a limb is sometimes |
| result in a limp if a leg is involved. | | | | necessary, pre- or post-operative chemotherapy has |
| Swelling in the area of the pain may not occur until | | | | made limb-sparing surgery possible in many cases. |
| weeks later. Depending on the location of the tumor, | | | | When appropriate, surgeons avoid amputation by |
| it may be possible to feel a lump or mass. | | | | removing only the cancerous section of the bone and |
| Fractures: Although bone cancer may weaken the | | | | replacing it with an artificial device called a prosthesis. |
| bone it develops in, the bones do not usually fracture. | | | | However, a biopsy-the removal of a sample of tissue |
| People with a fracture next to or through a bone | | | | from the bone tumor-is needed to determine |
| cancer usually describe a limb that was sore for a | | | | whether cancer is present |
| few months and suddenly became severely painful. | | | | The possible risk factors for bone cancer |
| Generalized symptoms: If the cancer has spread, you | | | | Although scientists are not certain what causes bone |
| may have generalized symptoms such as weight loss | | | | cancer, a number of factors may put a person at |
| and fatigue. | | | | increased risk. |
| However, symptoms may vary depending on the | | | | These cancers occur more frequently in children and |
| location and size of the cancer. Tumors that occur in | | | | young adults, particularly those who have had |
| or near joints may cause swelling or tenderness in | | | | radiation or chemotherapy treatments for other |
| the affected area. | | | | conditions. |
| The treatment options for bone cancer | | | | Adults with a noncancerous condition such as |
| Various forms of cancer treatments using surgery, | | | | characterized by abnormal development of new bone |
| radiation therapy, and chemotherapy for bone cancer | | | | cells, may be at increased risk for osteosarcoma. |
| are being tested in clinical trials. | | | | A small number of bone cancers are due to heredity. |
| Clinical trials are a critical step in the development of | | | | For example, children with hereditary retinoblastoma |
| new methods of treatment. Before any new | | | | (an uncommon cancer of the eye) are at a higher |
| treatment can be recommended for general use, | | | | risk of developing osteosarcoma. |
| doctors conduct clinical trials to find out whether the | | | | |