Bone Cancer Symptoms

Most bone cancers are sarcoma, a cancer that resembles the body's connective tissues. Of course, you can't see the cancer growing in your bones, but you can notice its warning signs. These warning signs are called symptoms.

Significance

• Bone cancer symptoms warn you of osteosarcoma, chondrosarcoma, the Ewing sarcoma family of tumors or soft tissue sarcomas. These are the most common types of bone cancer.

Types

• The most common symptom of bone cancer is bone pain. Other symptoms include include fatigue, bone tenderness and unexpected weight loss.

Diagnosis

• In light of your bone cancer symptoms, doctors will ask about your medical history and conduct diagnostic tests. These tests include X-rays, bone scans, CAT scans, MRIs and biopsies, or small tissue samples.

Treatment

• Doctors will prescribe a treatment specific to your symptoms. If you have bone cancer, doctors generally recommend surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, cryosurgery or a combination of these.

Expert Insight

• The National Cancer Institute points out that if you have cancer symptoms, you do not necessarily have bone cancer. A doctor can help you determine the cause of your symptoms.