What causes bone cancer?

Bone cancer is caused by a problem with the cells that make bone. More than 2,000 people are diagnosed in the
United States each year with a bone tumor. Bone tumors occur most commonly in children and adolescents and are
less common in older adults. Cancer involving the bone in older adults is most commonly the result of metastatic
spread from another tumor.

There are many different types of bone cancer. The most common primary bone tumors include osteosarcoma,
Ewing's sarcoma, chondrosarcoma, malignant fibrous histiocytoma, fibrosarcoma, and chordoma.

 Osteosarcoma is the most common primary malignant bone cancer. It most commonly affects males
between 10 and 25 years old but can less commonly affect older adults. It often occurs in the long bones of the
arms and legs at areas of rapid growth around the knees and shoulders of children. This type of cancer is often
very aggressive with risk of spread to the lungs. The five-year survival rate is about 65%.

 Ewing's sarcoma is the most aggressive bone tumor and affects younger people between 4-15 years of age.
It is more common in males and is very rare in people over 30 years of age. It most commonly occurs in the middle
of the long bones of the arms and legs. The three-year survival rate is about 65%, but this rate is much lower if
there has been spread to the lungs or other tissues of the body.

 Chondrosarcoma is the second most common bone tumor and accounts for about 25% of all malignant bone
tumors. These tumors arise from the cartilage cells and can either be very aggressive or relatively slow growing.
Unlike many other bone tumors, chondrosarcoma is most common in people over 40 years of age. It is slightly
more common in males and can potentially spread to the lungs and lymph nodes. Chondrosarcoma most
commonly affects the bones of the pelvis and hips. The five-year survival for the aggressive form is about 30%, but
the survival rate for slow-growing tumors is 90%.

 Malignant fibrous histiocytoma (MFH) affects the soft tissues, including muscle, ligaments, tendons, and fat.
It is the most common soft-tissue malignancy in later adult life, usually occurring in people 50-60 years of age. It
most commonly affects the extremities and is about twice as common in males as females. MFH also has a wide
range of severity. The overall five-year survival rate is about 35%-60%.

 Fibrosarcoma is much more rare than the other bone tumors. It is most common in people 35-55 years of
age. It most commonly affects the soft tissues of the leg behind the knee. It is slightly more common in males than
females.

 Chordoma is a very rare tumor with an average survival of about six years after diagnosis. It occurs in adults
over 30 years of age and is about twice as common in males as females. It most commonly affects either the lower
or upper end of the spinal column.
In addition to bone cancer, there are various types of benign bone tumors. These includeosteoid
osteoma, osteoblastoma, osteochondroma, enchondroma, chondromyxoid fibroma, aneurysmal bone cyst,
unicameral bone cyst, and giant cell tumor (which has the potential to become malignant). As with other types of
benign tumors, these are not cancerous.
http://www.medicinenet.com/bone_cancer/page2.htm#bone
What are bone cancer symptoms and signs?

The most common symptom of bone tumors is pain. In most cases, the symptoms become gradually more severe
with time. Initially, the pain may only be present either at night or with activity. Depending on the growth of the tumor,
those affected may have symptoms for weeks, months, or years before seeking medical advice. In some cases, a
mass or lump may be felt either on the bone or in the tissues surrounding the bone. This is most common with MFH
or fibrosarcoma but can occur with other bone tumors. The bones can become weakened by the tumor and lead to
a fracture after little or no trauma or just from standing on the affected bone. This can occur with both benign and
malignant tumors. Even benign tumors can spread locally and weaken the surrounding bone. If the tumor
compresses the surrounding nerve it can cause pain, numbness, or tingling in the extremities. If the surrounding
blood vessels are compressed, it can affect the blood flow to the extremities. Fever, chills, night sweats, and weight
loss can occur but are less common. These symptoms are more common after spread of the tumor to other tissues in
the body.