Most bone tumors are benign (not cancerous), but a few are cancerous. Known as primary bone cancers, these are quite rare, accounting for less than 0.2 percent of all cancers. The majority of cases of cancer involving bone are metastatic, meaning the disease has spread to the bones from another place in the body.
Most bone tumors are benign (not cancerous). Benign tumors are usually not life-threatening and, in most cases, will not spread to other parts of the body. Depending upon the type of tumor, treatment options are wide-ranging — from simple observation to surgery to remove the tumor.
Signs and symptoms of bone cancer
persistent bone pain that gets worse over time and continues into the night. swelling and redness (inflammation) over a bone, which can make movement difficult if the affected bone is near a joint. a noticeable lump over a bone. a weak bone that breaks (fractures) more easily than ...
If the cancer is diagnosed at the localized stage, the 5-year relative survival rate is 82%. If the cancer has spread to surrounding tissues or organs and/or the regional lymph nodes, the 5-year relative survival rate is 70%.
Osteosarcoma often occurs in the ends of the long bones of the arms and legs, where new tissue forms as young adults grow. It occurs most often in young people (ages 10 to 30), but can occur in older people.
Cancer begins when healthy cells in the bone change and grow out of control, forming a mass called a tumor. A bone tumor can be cancerous or benign. A cancerous tumor is malignant, meaning it can grow and spread to other parts of the body. A malignant tumor can destroy the bone and spread to nearby tissue.
Stage 1 bone cancer
The cancer cells are still localized to the bone, and the tumor is considered low-grade. Stage 1 bone cancer is divided into two subcategories. Stage 1A: The tumor measures about 8 cm or smaller. The grade may be G1 (low grade) or GX (the grade can't be determined).
Stage 1 is the most treatable stage of bone cancer.
Generally, bone cancer is much easier to cure in otherwise healthy people whose cancer hasn't spread. Overall, around 6 in every 10 people with bone cancer will live for at least 5 years from the time of their diagnosis, and many of these may be cured completely.
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.
It's rare that your provider will order blood or urine tests to diagnose a benign blood tumor. A bone tumor specialist will likely order a bone scan, CT scan, MRI scan or biopsy. The appropriate first step is an initial evaluation and X-rays. Your pediatrician or primary care provider can order these first tests.
The most common bone cancer symptom is pain, though sometimes these tumors are painless. The pain may be mild or severe. Many people describe it as throbbing, aching or stabbing. Some people develop a lump in the area that may be hard or soft to the touch.
Bones: If cancer is in the bones, too much calcium may go into the bloodstream, which can cause unconsciousness and death. Bones with tumors may also break and not heal.
Most people with bone cancer will have surgery. The type of surgery you have depends mainly on where the tumour is, the size of the tumour, the stage of the cancer and the type of bone cancer. Tumours that can be completely removed with surgery are called resectable.
Most bone tumors are non-cancerous (benign). Some are cancerous (malignant). Occasionally infection, stress fractures and other non-tumor conditions can closely resemble tumors. Benign tumors are usually not life threatening.
All types of primary bone cancer
almost 75 out of 100 people (almost 75%) survive their cancer for 1 year or more. more than 50 out of 100 people (more than 50%) survive their cancer for 5 years or more.
In 2023, an estimated 609,820 people will die of cancer in the United States. Lung and bronchus cancer is responsible for the most deaths with 127,070 people expected to die from this disease. That is nearly three times the 52,550 deaths due to colorectal cancer, which is the second most common cause of cancer death.
Some stage 4 bone cancers can be cured, but treatments are aggressive. Successful treatment largely depends on the ability of the treatment team to remove the tumor(s) surgically. Most often, chemotherapy is utilized prior to surgery in order to shrink the tumor(s).
Osteoblastoma replaces normal hard bone tissue with a weaker form called osteoid. This tumor occurs mainly in the spine (6). It is slow-growing and occurs in young and middle-aged adults.
Bone x-rays may show if the cancer started in the bone (primary bone cancer). Or if the cancer spread to the bone from somewhere else in the body (secondary bone cancer). Sometimes the way the bone looks on an x-ray can help the doctor tell which type of bone cancer it is. This is often true for osteosarcoma.
Like most cancers, the risk of bone cancer increases with age. But for some types of bone cancer, younger people have a higher risk. Osteosarcoma is more common in adolescents (10 to 19 years). It seems to be linked to the growth of the bones during puberty.
Different bone cancers respond to different treatments, and your doctors can help guide you in what is best for your cancer. For example, some bone cancers are treated with just surgery; some with surgery and chemotherapy; and some with surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy.
(Screening is testing for cancer in people without any symptoms.) Still, most bone cancers are found at an early stage, before they have clearly spread to other parts of the body. Symptoms such as bone pain or swelling often prompt a visit to a doctor.