Bone cancer is a rare cancer that begins in a bone. Bone cancer commonly affects the long bones that can be found in the arms and legs.
There are several different types such as Osteosarcoma (Also known as Osteogenic Sarcoma), Ewing’s Sarcoma, Chondrosarcoma, Spindle Cell Sarcoma, Chordoma, and Angiosarcoma.
About this Cancer
- Bone cancer is one of the rarest types, with the most recent data dating from 2018 and 2020.
- According to the Canadian Cancer Society, in terms of incidence rate, 285 Canadians were diagnosed with bone cancer in 2018, of which 170 (60%) were men and 115 (40%) were women.
- In 2020, 222 Canadians died from bone cancer, of which 136 (61%) were men and 86 (49%) were women.
Source: Canadian Cancer Society
The following are symptoms of bone cancer:
- Pain in the region of the tumor that worsens at night or when using the bone
- Swelling or lump in the affected area
- Weakened bone
- Fractures
For more information, check out the American Cancer Society.
Risk factors for bone cancer depend on the type of cancer and include:
- History of chemotherapy
- Radiation exposure
- Conditions affecting the bone (e.g.: Paget’s disease of the bone)
- Genetic conditions (e.g.: Li-Fraumeni syndrome)
For more information, check out the Canadian Cancer Society.
The following procedures are done to diagnose bone cancer:
- Medical history and physical exam
- Imaging tests (X-ray, MRI, CT and PET scans)
- Biopsy
- Cell and tissue tests
- Blood chemistry tests
- Complete blood count (CBC)
- Bone scan
For more information, check out the Canadian Cancer Society.
Treatment options include:
- Surgery
- Chemotherapy
- Radiation therapy
For more information, check out the Canadian Cancer Society.
Stories from Survivors
We currently do not have any stories on bone cancer. If you know of any, please share them with us at info@survivornet.ca.
- A Blog about Beating Ewing’s Sarcoma, Life with Cancer and My Odd Odd Self
- Bone cancer stories
- Cancer is hilarious
- Chemo Between Classes – Advice for dealing with cancer and college
- Cooking and Cancer
- Coping with the BIG C (that’s cancer to you and me)
- The C Word
- Information on Jonathan
- Patient Stories
- Patient Stories | Bone and Musculoskeletal Cancer
- Pimp My Wig
- Steven Battles Cancer
- Through the looking glass… and What Alice Found There
- Tristan, Bone Cancer got Nothing on “U”
Resources
- Bone Cancer, Causes, Signs and Symptoms, Diagnosis and Treatment (YouTube)
- Bone Cancer Types
- Coping and support when you have bone cancer
- Comprehensive Guide to Secondary Bone Cancer
- Visual Guide to Bone Cancer
- The story of Elourdine: a warrior who defeated bone cancer (YouTube)
- Sarcoma Infographic
- Sarcoma Nutrition
- Understanding Bone Cancer (Different types)
- June 28, 2024 – Molecular targets in bone cancer pain: a systematic review of inflammatory cytokines – Springer Link
- March 7, 2024 – Cell Membrane Surface-Engineered Nanoparticles for Targeted Bone Cancer Therapy – ACS Publications
- December 7, 2023 – Enhancing bone cancer diagnosis through image extraction and machine learning: a state-of-the-art approach – Sage Journals
- August 2023 – Advanced nanoscale drug delivery systems for bone cancer therapy – ScienceDirect
- October 21, 2021 – Progress of phototherapy applications in the treatment of bone cancer – MDPI
- July 30, 2021 – Innovative biomaterials for the treatment of bone cancer – MDPI
- March 19, 2020 – NCI study provides genetic insights into osteosarcoma in children – National Cancer Institute
- January 20, 2021 – Bone marrow adipocytes: A link between obesity and bone cancer – MDPI
Bone Cancer Groups
Sarcoma Cancer Foundation of Canada: “Sarcoma Cancer Foundation of Canada is Canada’s national organization dedicated to providing patient support and education while working with Canada’s leading researchers to eradicate the disease.” Visit them at Sarcoma Cancer Foundation of Canada.