What is bone cancer?
A tumour can start in or on the surface of a bone. Bone tumours can be non-cancerous, such as bone cysts, osteochondroma, giant cell tumour of bone and osteoid osteoma.
But in some cases, bone tumours are cancerous. A cancerous (malignant) tumour is a group of cancer cells that can grow into nearby tissue and destroy it. The cancer cells can also spread (metastasize) to other parts of the body.
When cancer starts in or on the surface of a bone, it is called primary bone cancer. Primary bone cancer is rare in adults over the age of 40. It is more common in children, adolescents and young adults. Find out more about childhood bone cancers.
Types of bone cancer
The most common cancerous bone tumours in adults are chondrosarcoma, osteosarcoma and Ewing sarcoma. Chondrosarcoma and osteosarcoma are most often found in bones in the legs, arms or pelvis (hip). Ewing sarcoma is most often found in the bones of the pelvis, legs, arms, ribs, spine or skull.
Chordoma is a rare type of bone cancer that can also develop in the bones of the skull or spine.
Bone metastases
Other types of cancer can spread to the bone, but they are not the same disease as primary bone cancer. Cancer that starts in another part of the body and spreads to the bone is called bone metastasis or secondary bone cancer. This is much more common than primary bone cancer. Find out more about bone metastases.
The bones
Cancerous tumours of the bone
Non-cancerous tumours of the bone
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