Bone cancer
Bone pain is the most common symptom of bone cancer. Some people experience other symptoms as well.
Pain caused by bone cancer usually begins with a feeling of tenderness in the affected bone. Thisgradually progresses to a persistent ache or ache that comes and goes, which continues at night and when resting.
Any bone can be affected, although bone cancer most often develops in the long bones of the legs or upper arms.
Thepain can sometimes bewrongly mistaken for Arthritis in adults and growing pains in children and teenagers.
Some people also experience swelling and redness (inflammation) or notice a lump on or around the affected bone. If the bone is near a joint, the swelling may make it difficult to use the joint.
In some cases, the cancer can weaken a bone, causing it to break (fracture) easilyafter a minor injury or fall.
Less common symptoms can include:
See your GP if you or your child experiences persistent, severe or worsening bone pain, or if you're worried about any of the symptoms mentioned above.
While it's highly unlikely that your symptoms are caused by cancer, it's best to be sure by getting a proper diagnosis.
Primary bone cancer is a rare type of cancer that begins in the bones. Around 550 new cases are diagnosed each year in the UK. This is a separate condition from secondary bone cancer, which is cancer that spreads to the bones after developing in another part of the body.
Bone pain is the most common symptom of bone cancer. Some people also experience swelling and redness (inflammation) or notice a lump on or around the affected bone. If the bone is near a joint, the swelling may make it difficult to use the joint.
Cancer occurs when the cells in a certain area of your body divide and multiply too rapidly. This produces a lump of tissue known as a tumour. The exact reason why this happens is often not known, but certain things can increase your chance of developing the condition
If you're experiencing bone pain, your GP will ask about your symptoms and examine the affected area, before deciding whether you need to have any further tests. After being examined, you may be referred for an X-ray of the affected area to look for any problems in the bones.
Treatment for bone cancer depends on the type of bone cancer you have, how far it has spread and your general health. The main treatments are surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Your treatment should be managed by a specialist centre with experience in treating bone cancer.
Carol Starkey, from Bromsgrove, Worcs, was diagnosed with bone cancer in her shoulder just three weeks after she started university. Her advice is to not get discouraged by the treatment. The first few weeks of chemotherapy are the worst. After that, it gets better.