Bone Cancer

Cancer that starts in a bone is rare. Cancer that has spread to the bone from another part of the body is more common.

There are three types of bone cancer:

• Osteosarcoma - develops in growing bones, usually between ages 10 and 25
• Chondrosarcoma - starts in cartilage, usually after age 50
• Ewing's sarcoma - begins in nerve tissue in bone marrow of young people, often after treatment of another condition with radiation or chemotherapy

The most common symptom of bone cancer is pain. Other symptoms may vary depending on the location and size of the cancer. Surgery is often the main treatment for bone cancer. Other treatments may include amputation, chemotherapy and radiation.

NIH: National Cancer Institute