Overview

Bone cancer can begin in any bone in the body, but it most commonly affects the pelvis or the long bones in the arms and legs. Bone cancer is rare, making up less than 1 percent of all cancers. In fact, noncancerous bone tumors are much more common than cancerous ones.

The term "bone cancer" doesn't include cancers that begin elsewhere in the body and spread (metastasize) to the bone. Instead, those cancers are named for where they began, such as breast cancer that has metastasized to the bone.

Some types of bone cancer occur primarily in children, while others affect mostly adults. Surgical removal is the most common treatment, but chemotherapy and radiation therapy also may be utilized. The decision to use surgery, chemotherapy or radiation therapy is based on the type of bone cancer being treated.

Signs and symptoms of bone cancer include:

Make an appointment with your doctor if you or your child develops bone pain that:

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The cause of most bone cancers is unknown. A small number of bone cancers have been linked to hereditary factors, while others are related to previous radiation exposure.

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Osteosarcoma, the most common type of bone cancer, often starts in the long bones the legs or the arms but it can occur in any bone.

Bone cancers are broken down into separate types based on the type of cell where the cancer began. The most common types of bone cancer include:

It's not clear what causes bone cancer, but doctors have found certain factors are associated with an increased risk, including:

Bone cancer care at Mayo Clinic

March 22, 2022

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Bone cancer - Symptoms and causes - Mayo Clinic