Last Reviewed May 28, 2009
Symptoms & Characteristics
There are three main types of bone cancer:
- Osteosarcoma - develops in growing bones (between 10 and 25 years old)
- Chondrosarcoma - develops in cartilage (after 50 years old)
- Ewing's sarcoma - develops in nerve tissue in bone marrow (often occurs secondary to chemotherapy or radiation treatment of another condition)
The most common symptom of bone cancer is pain. Other symptoms vary depending on the location and size of the cancer.
Treatment
Treatment for bone cancer may include surgery, amputation, chemotherapy and radiation.
How Common Is It?
Cancer that begins in bone is rare, while cancer that spreads to the bone from other parts of the body is more common.
Genetics & Inheritance
Cancer is a multifactorial condition, which means it involves a combination of
genetic, lifestyle and environmental factors. Most cases of bone cancer
are not inherited and occur sporadically.
A small percent of
cases are due to a hereditary cancer syndrome.
- A
hereditary cancer syndrome is caused by an inherited
gene mutation that increases the chance to develop one or more types of
cancer. Families are more likely to have a hereditary cancer syndrome if there are multiple
generations of affected family members with the same cancer (or associated cancers). People
who are diagnosed at an unusually young age or have certain rare
cancers are also more likely to have a hereditary cancer
syndrome. Several different hereditary cancer syndromes have been
identified. Click here for more information about Cancer
Genetics.
For example, people with either of the hereditary cancer syndromes,
Li-Fraumeni syndrome (LFS) or familial retinoblastoma, are at an increased risk to develop bone cancer as well as other types of cancer.
A cancer
genetic consultation with a trained genetic professional is important for a
complete evaluation, accurate diagnosis, as well as discussion of the benefits
and limitations of testing and recurrence risk.
Genetic Testing
In the absence of a known or suspected hereditary
cancer syndrome,
cancer predisposition testing for bone cancer is unavailable.
Clinical genetic testing for some of the hereditary cancer syndromes associated with bone cancer
may be available through an in person cancer
genetic consultation for people who
are considered at risk.
The decision to have genetic testing is a highly
personal one that should always be discussed with trained medical professional. Use our
find a genetic professional directory to locate a trained genetic professional
in your area.
Support & More Information
More information can be
found at:
Alternative Names
- Osteosarcoma
- Chondrosarcoma
- Ewing's sarcoma