Primary bone cancer symptoms and risk factors

What are the symptoms?

The most common symptom is pain in the affected bone or joint that doesn’t improve with mild pain medicines such as paracetamol. You might have this pain most of the time, and it may be worse at night or during activity.

Other symptoms can include:

• swelling over the affected part of the bone
• stiffness or tenderness in the bone
• problems moving around (e.g. walking with a limp)
• loss of feeling in the affected arm or leg (limb)
• bone that breaks for no reason.

These symptoms do not necessarily mean you have primary bone cancer. If your symptoms last longer than 2 weeks, you should see your doctor.

What are the risk factors?

The causes of most bone cancers are unknown, but factors that may increase the risk include:

Previous radiation exposure including radiation therapy (radiotherapy)

Radiation therapy to treat cancer increases the risk of developing bone cancer. The risk is higher when high doses of radiation therapy have been given in childhood. Most people who have radiation therapy will not develop bone cancer. 

Chemotherapy for another cancer

Some drugs may increase the risk of osteosarcoma.

Genetic factors

Some inherited conditions, such as Li-Fraumeni syndrome, increase the risk of bone cancer. People with a strong family history of certain types of cancer are also at risk. Ask for a referral to a family cancer clinic for more information. Some people develop bone cancer because of gene changes that happen during their lifetime, rather than inheriting a faulty gene. 

Other bone conditions

Some people who have benign bone conditions, such as Paget’s disease of the bone, are at higher risk.