Signs and Symptoms of Bone Cancer

Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsFrequent SymptomsLess Common SymptomsRare SymptomsComplicationsWhen to See Your Healthcare ProviderFrequently Asked Questions

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

Frequent Symptoms

Less Common Symptoms

Rare Symptoms

Complications

When to See Your Healthcare Provider

Frequently Asked Questions

© Verywell, 2018

Symptoms that are often noted include the following.

Pain

Overall,pain is the most common symptomof osteosarcoma, the most common type of primary bone cancer.

Pain from bone cancer may be worse at night or when you move the bone.

Common Symptoms of OsteosarcomaLimping if the tumor is in the leg orhipboneTrouble moving, lifting, or walkingPain, tenderness, growth, and/or swelling close to a jointWarmth and redness in the affected areaA broken bone at the site of the tumor; the bone may break with routine, normal movementSudden, severe pain in a bone that had been sore for weeks or months

Common Symptoms of Osteosarcoma

Limping if the tumor is in the leg orhipboneTrouble moving, lifting, or walkingPain, tenderness, growth, and/or swelling close to a jointWarmth and redness in the affected areaA broken bone at the site of the tumor; the bone may break with routine, normal movementSudden, severe pain in a bone that had been sore for weeks or months

Swelling

The painful area of bone may also develop swelling around it, although this may not occur until weeks after the onset of the bone pain.

Pain and swelling can have a variable pattern, depending on the type of bone cancer. For instance, in the case of osteosarcoma, the shin, thigh, and upper arm are common tumor sites in children and adolescents. It is in these areas that pain and swelling occur with the disease.

Pathological Fractures

These are fractures that wouldn’t normally occur in healthy bones. When cancer develops within the bone, the bone can be weakened.A pathological fracture causes sudden severe pain in a bone that may have been sore for weeks or months.

As bone cancer advances, systemic effects may arise, in addition to the local effects near the bone.

These include:

These systemic symptoms tend to occur with very advanced disease.

Different locations and types of osteosarcoma can cause characteristic symptoms along with the more common effects of bone cancer.

Head and Neck Osteosarcomas

Osteosarcomas of the skull and facial bones are relatively rare and represent less than 10% of all osteosarcomas. The male-to-female ratio is close to one.

Parosteal Osteosarcomas

Parosteal osteosarcoma causes minimal pain and tenderness over the cancerous site. these tumors can limit the ability to flex and extend the knee joint.

The tumor may be present for a long time before it is diagnosed, enlarging before pain develops in the late phases.

Multifocal Sclerosing Osteosarcomas

Multifocal sclerosing osteosarcoma is a condition in which multiple tumors in the skeleton are present at diagnosis.Each tumor looks like it’s the original site of disease, suggesting that the bone tumors developed independently, at the same time, and at multiple sites.

Symptoms are similar to more typical osteosarcomas except that they may occur in very young children and are more widespread.

It is not known for sure whether such bone cancer arises in multiple sites or if one of the tumors is the true start of the disease and has metastasized rapidly to other skeletal sites.

Post-Irradiation Osteosarcoma

Post-irradiation osteosarcoma can develop after radiation therapy treatment for another cancer. It develops in less than 1% of people who have had radiation treatment for cancer.

A variety of complications are possible with osteosarcoma and/or itstreatment. The list may feel overwhelming.

Remember that all of these complications are just possibilities, and you are unlikely to have all of them. In fact, none may occur, and if they do, close monitoring and recommendations from your healthcare professional should help you manage and overcome them.

Possible complications of osteosarcoma orits treatmentinclude:

Metastasis

The most frequent site of metastasis (spread of cancer) from the bone is the lung.

Much less frequently, metastases are detected in other bones and soft tissues. When osteosarcoma has become more widespread, this is frequently the consequence of recurrence. Widespread osteosarcoma can spread to involve the central nervous system or gastrointestinal tract.

Death from osteosarcoma is almost always the result of respiratory failure. This can involve bleeding into the lungs, collapse of one or both lungs, and compression of the blood vessels that are near the lungs.

Many of the common symptoms of bone cancer, such as pain and swelling, tend to occur much more commonly in association with less serious conditions—such as traumatic injuries. In addition, leg and arm pain are common in growing children, and there is often no cause for concern. However, if the pain persists, intensifies, or if other symptoms are present, you should seek medical attention.

Bone Cancer Doctor Discussion GuideGet our printable guide for your next healthcare provider’s appointment to help you ask the right questions.Download PDFEmail AddressSign UpThank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up.There was an error. Please try again.

Get our printable guide for your next healthcare provider’s appointment to help you ask the right questions.

Download PDF

Email AddressSign UpThank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up.There was an error. Please try again.

Sign Up

Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up.

There was an error. Please try again.

If you or a loved one has a cancer-predisposing condition such as retinoblastoma orLi-Fraumeni syndrome, you need to be particularly vigilant for the signs and symptoms of malignancy.

If you have already been diagnosed with bone cancer, you should speak to your healthcare provider if your symptoms are getting worse, you are having new symptoms, or you are having side effects from treatment.

Frequently Asked QuestionsPrimary bone cancer can originate in any bone in the body, but it typically starts in the long bones of the body, like the arms and legs.Almost half of all osteosarcomas start in the area around the knee.The first symptom of bone cancer is a constant pain that may be worse at night or when you move the bone. Because of this, early bone cancer symptoms are sometimes misidentified as a physical injury or the result of over-exercising.Other early symptoms may include:Limping or trouble walkingTrouble moving or lifting a limbPain, swelling, warmth, or redness near a jointBreaking a bone without a traumatic injuryArthritiscan sometimes be mistaken for bone cancer, especially in the early stage, as the cardinal symptoms of these noncancerous conditions (such as pain, swelling, and trouble moving around) can be similar to those of bone cancer.Bone cancer can spread slowly or rapidly, and prognosis depends on several factors:Primary tumor locationSize of the primary tumorHow far cancer has spread (if at all)AgeWhether the tumor is resectable (can be surgically removed)A healthcare provider will use classification systems to help determine the stage of cancer, which describes how much it has spread in the body ,and can offer an estimated prognosis.

Primary bone cancer can originate in any bone in the body, but it typically starts in the long bones of the body, like the arms and legs.Almost half of all osteosarcomas start in the area around the knee.

The first symptom of bone cancer is a constant pain that may be worse at night or when you move the bone. Because of this, early bone cancer symptoms are sometimes misidentified as a physical injury or the result of over-exercising.Other early symptoms may include:Limping or trouble walkingTrouble moving or lifting a limbPain, swelling, warmth, or redness near a jointBreaking a bone without a traumatic injury

The first symptom of bone cancer is a constant pain that may be worse at night or when you move the bone. Because of this, early bone cancer symptoms are sometimes misidentified as a physical injury or the result of over-exercising.

Other early symptoms may include:

Arthritiscan sometimes be mistaken for bone cancer, especially in the early stage, as the cardinal symptoms of these noncancerous conditions (such as pain, swelling, and trouble moving around) can be similar to those of bone cancer.

Bone cancer can spread slowly or rapidly, and prognosis depends on several factors:Primary tumor locationSize of the primary tumorHow far cancer has spread (if at all)AgeWhether the tumor is resectable (can be surgically removed)A healthcare provider will use classification systems to help determine the stage of cancer, which describes how much it has spread in the body ,and can offer an estimated prognosis.

Bone cancer can spread slowly or rapidly, and prognosis depends on several factors:

A healthcare provider will use classification systems to help determine the stage of cancer, which describes how much it has spread in the body ,and can offer an estimated prognosis.

8 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Cancer Council Victoria.Primary bone cancer.American Cancer Society.Signs and symptoms of osteosarcoma.National Cancer Institute.Osteosarcoma and malignant fibrous histiocytoma of bone treatment (PDQ®)–Health professional.Ottaviani G, Jaffe N.The epidemiology of osteosarcoma.Cancer Treat Res. 2009;152:3-13. doi:10.1007/978-1-4419-0284-9_1Kumar VS, Barwar N, Khan SA.Surface osteosarcomas: Diagnosis, treatment and outcome.Indian J Orthop. 2014;48(3):255-61. doi:10.4103/0019-5413.132503Hong N, Yoo H, Shin SH, Gwak HS, Lee SH.A case of radiation-induced osteosarcoma after the treatment of pineoblastoma.Brain Tumor Res Treat. 2015;3(2):156-9. doi:10.14791/btrt.2015.3.2.156University of Rochester Medical Center.Osteosarcoma (Osteogenic Sarcoma) in Children.Durfee RA, Mohammed M, Luu HH.Review of osteosarcoma and current management.Rheumatol Ther. 2016;3(2):221-243. doi:10.1007/s40744-016-0046-y

8 Sources

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Cancer Council Victoria.Primary bone cancer.American Cancer Society.Signs and symptoms of osteosarcoma.National Cancer Institute.Osteosarcoma and malignant fibrous histiocytoma of bone treatment (PDQ®)–Health professional.Ottaviani G, Jaffe N.The epidemiology of osteosarcoma.Cancer Treat Res. 2009;152:3-13. doi:10.1007/978-1-4419-0284-9_1Kumar VS, Barwar N, Khan SA.Surface osteosarcomas: Diagnosis, treatment and outcome.Indian J Orthop. 2014;48(3):255-61. doi:10.4103/0019-5413.132503Hong N, Yoo H, Shin SH, Gwak HS, Lee SH.A case of radiation-induced osteosarcoma after the treatment of pineoblastoma.Brain Tumor Res Treat. 2015;3(2):156-9. doi:10.14791/btrt.2015.3.2.156University of Rochester Medical Center.Osteosarcoma (Osteogenic Sarcoma) in Children.Durfee RA, Mohammed M, Luu HH.Review of osteosarcoma and current management.Rheumatol Ther. 2016;3(2):221-243. doi:10.1007/s40744-016-0046-y

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Cancer Council Victoria.Primary bone cancer.American Cancer Society.Signs and symptoms of osteosarcoma.National Cancer Institute.Osteosarcoma and malignant fibrous histiocytoma of bone treatment (PDQ®)–Health professional.Ottaviani G, Jaffe N.The epidemiology of osteosarcoma.Cancer Treat Res. 2009;152:3-13. doi:10.1007/978-1-4419-0284-9_1Kumar VS, Barwar N, Khan SA.Surface osteosarcomas: Diagnosis, treatment and outcome.Indian J Orthop. 2014;48(3):255-61. doi:10.4103/0019-5413.132503Hong N, Yoo H, Shin SH, Gwak HS, Lee SH.A case of radiation-induced osteosarcoma after the treatment of pineoblastoma.Brain Tumor Res Treat. 2015;3(2):156-9. doi:10.14791/btrt.2015.3.2.156University of Rochester Medical Center.Osteosarcoma (Osteogenic Sarcoma) in Children.Durfee RA, Mohammed M, Luu HH.Review of osteosarcoma and current management.Rheumatol Ther. 2016;3(2):221-243. doi:10.1007/s40744-016-0046-y

Cancer Council Victoria.Primary bone cancer.

American Cancer Society.Signs and symptoms of osteosarcoma.

National Cancer Institute.Osteosarcoma and malignant fibrous histiocytoma of bone treatment (PDQ®)–Health professional.

Ottaviani G, Jaffe N.The epidemiology of osteosarcoma.Cancer Treat Res. 2009;152:3-13. doi:10.1007/978-1-4419-0284-9_1

Kumar VS, Barwar N, Khan SA.Surface osteosarcomas: Diagnosis, treatment and outcome.Indian J Orthop. 2014;48(3):255-61. doi:10.4103/0019-5413.132503

Hong N, Yoo H, Shin SH, Gwak HS, Lee SH.A case of radiation-induced osteosarcoma after the treatment of pineoblastoma.Brain Tumor Res Treat. 2015;3(2):156-9. doi:10.14791/btrt.2015.3.2.156

University of Rochester Medical Center.Osteosarcoma (Osteogenic Sarcoma) in Children.

Durfee RA, Mohammed M, Luu HH.Review of osteosarcoma and current management.Rheumatol Ther. 2016;3(2):221-243. doi:10.1007/s40744-016-0046-y

Meet Our Medical Expert Board

Share Feedback

Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit

Was this page helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit

What is your feedback?