Bone cancer
What is bone cancer?
Primary bone cancer starts in or on the surface of a bone. The most common types in adults are chondrosarcoma, osteosarcoma and Ewing sarcoma.
Risks for bone cancer
Risks for bone cancer include exposure to radiation, bone disorders or conditions, and genetic conditions.
Signs and symptoms of bone cancer
Common signs and symptoms of bone cancer include pain in a bone or joint and swelling or a lump that can be felt over a bone.
Diagnosis of bone cancer
Bone cancer can be diagnosed or ruled out by tests such as x-rays, an MRI, biopsy or cell and tissue studies.
Grading bone cancer
Grading describes how cancer cells look compared to healthy cells. Bone cancer is described as low grade or high grade.
Stages of bone cancer
The stage of bone cancer describes how much cancer is in the body. Bone cancer is often staged as localized or metastatic.
If bone cancer spreads
Bone cancer can spread (metastasize) to the lungs, other bones and the brain.
Prognosis and survival for bone cancer
Prognosis estimates the outcome for bone cancer. It depends on many factors including if the cancer has spread and the location, grade and size of the tumour.
Treatments for bone cancer
Bone cancer can be treated with surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy.
Supportive care for bone cancer
Supportive care for bone cancer helps people meet physical, practical, emotional and spiritual challenges.
Research in bone cancer
Researchers are always learning more about bone cancer and finding better ways to treat it.
Bone cancer statistics
Cancer statistics tell us how many people in Canada are diagnosed with and die from bone cancer in a certain time frame.
Your trusted source for accurate cancer information
With support from readers like you, we can continue to provide the highest quality cancer information for over 100 types of cancer.
We’re here to ensure easy access to accurate cancer information for you and the millions of people who visit this website every year. But we can’t do it alone.
Every donation helps fund reliable cancer information, compassionate support services and the most promising research. Please give today because every contribution counts. Thank you.