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