Bone Cancer

“Bone cancer” is the term for several different cancers that develop in your bones. When cancer cells grow in a bone, they can harm normal bone tissue. Bone cancers can start in any bone, but they more commonly form in your thigh bone, shin bone or upper arm.

Cancers that form in the bone itself are called primary bone cancers or bone sarcomas. Many cancerous tumors that begin in organs or other parts of your body can spread to your bones, as well as other body parts. These growths are called “bony metastases.” Breast, prostate and lung tumors are the cancers most likely to metastasize (spread) to your bones.

Bone cancers are serious and require prompt treatment. The good news is that there are things healthcare providers can do to treat bone cancers and, in some cases, even cure them.

Types of bone cancer

There are three main types of primary bone cancer. The type of cell and tissue where cancer starts determines the type of bone cancer:

• Osteosarcoma. The most common type of bone cancer, osteosarcoma develops in the cells where new bone tissue forms. It’s most common in teenagers but may also affect young adults and children.
• Ewing sarcoma. These tumors can form in your bones and in surrounding soft tissues. They’re most common in children and teenagers but may also affect some young adults.
• Chondrosarcoma. These tumors begin in the soft connective tissue that allows movement between joints and bones (cartilage). They occur more frequently in adults.

Rarer types of bone cancer include:

• Chordoma. These tumors form in your spine or the base of your skull.
• Fibrosarcoma. These tumors start in the fibrous, connective tissue at the end of your bones.
• Giant cell tumor. These benign (noncancerous) tumors may become cancerous in rare cases.
• Undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma. These aggressive tumors start in soft tissue and bone.

How common is bone cancer?

Bone cancers are rare. They make up less than 1% of cancers in the United States. While they can develop at any age, they’re more common in children, teenagers and young adults than in older adults.

Tumors that form in your bones are much more likely to be benign. Unlike bone cancers, benign bone tumors don’t spread throughout your body.