Bone cancer is very rare compared to bone metastases. Read what signs can indicate bone cancer or metastases.
There is no such thing as “bone cancer”. Rather, there are several types of malignant bone tumors that differ in their nature and symptoms and also differ in therapy and prognosis.
Important to know: Bone cancer is not the same as bone metastases. While bone cancer develops directly from the cells found in the bone, metastases originate. Metastases occur when cancer cells spread to other parts of the body and form secondary tumors there.
Experts refer to cancers that develop from bone cells as bone sarcomas or malignant bone tumors.
Bone cancer is rare. In Germany, around 800 people receive this diagnosis every year. For comparison: Colon cancer was discovered in around 55,000 people in 2022. Bone metastases are significantly more common compared to primary bone cancer – up to 20 times by some estimates.
The first symptoms of bone cancer are usually felt relatively late. In the early stages, people with the disease usually have no or only unspecific symptoms.
Important to know: How bone cancer manifests itself varies greatly. The symptoms depend on
- what type of bone cancer it is,
- where exactly the tumor is located and
- how far the disease has progressed.
However, pain is usually the first sign – both in bone cancer and in bone metastases.
In general, the following signs can indicate bone cancer:
- Pain in the area of a bone
- Restrictions on movement of neighboring joints
- nighttime pain
- a visible and/or palpable swelling
- swollen lymph nodes
- Bone fractures without great force as the bone becomes increasingly unstable
- Tingling, numbness
The pain often increases with exertion. They can worsen over time and eventually be present even at rest. However, it is also possible that the pain occurs permanently or in phases right from the start, regardless of stress.
Rarely, bone cancer is accompanied by general signs that affect the entire body. These include, for example:
- Fever
- greater, unwanted weight loss
- Night sweats
- Loss of appetite
- Weakness, tiredness, paleness
Bone cancer may not be discovered until a bone fracture occurs.
The complaints mentioned usually have another (often comparatively harmless) reason – because bone cancer is rare. Bone metastases are also just one of numerous possible causes. However, if you have persistent and/or severe symptoms, you should seek medical attention as soon as possible.
In the next paragraph you can read about the types of bone cancer and what symptoms each of them is associated with.
The individual types of bone cancer differ, among other things, in which tissue they arise from. Experts divide bone cancer into bone, bone marrow and cartilage tumors.
The most common types of bone cancer are:
- Osteosarcomas, which are bone tumors
- Chondrosarcomas that arise from cartilage tissue
- Ewing sarcomas, which grow from bone marrow tissue (less commonly from soft tissue)
If bone cancer occurs in children, it is usually Ewing or osteosarcoma. Adults, on the other hand, are more likely to develop chondrosarcoma or osteosarcoma. There are also many other, even rarer types of bone cancer.
The Osteosarcoma is the most common type of bone cancer. It occurs particularly in young people and people over 70 years of age. Osteosarcomas occur primarily in the long bones of the arms or legs. They are often found in the area of the knee joint and at the upper end of the humerus. At the beginning, typical symptoms are missing. As the disease progresses, pain in the affected area that lasts for weeks and is independent of exertion can be a sign, which later also occurs at rest. Movement at the tumor site may be restricted and/or swelling may be palpable. If the tumor is advanced, a bone fracture can easily occur – even with minimal force. If you have osteosarcoma in your jaw, your teeth can become loose.
Chondrosarcomas They mainly occur in adults between 30 and 60 years of age. They mainly form in the pelvis, on the thigh bone, in the shoulder girdle area or on the ribs. The signs of chondrosarcoma are non-specific. Sick people can report news to the affected areas. Pain can also occur.
Ewing sarcomas are even rarer than osteosarcomas or chondrosarcomas. Children and young people mainly suffer from it. The tumors grow massively in the pelvis or in the middle of the long bones of the thighs. Possible symptoms include increasingly stress-dependent pain, which can later also be felt at rest. Another indication can be a palpable swelling. As Ewing's sarcoma progresses, it can cause general symptoms such as fever, fatigue, tiredness or weight loss.
Bone metastases are growths of a tumor that can be found elsewhere in the body. For example, they can arise as a result of advanced prostate or breast cancer. Lung, kidney or thyroid cancer can also lead to bone metastases as the disease progresses.
