Osteosarcoma
Osteosarcoma is a type of bone cancer. It is a primary bone cancer, which means it starts growing in the bones rather than spreading to the bones from a cancer starting somewhere else in the body. Bone cancers are rare, although osteosarcoma is the most common type of bone cancer.
Although osteosarcoma can occur at any age, it is usually found in adolescents and young adults whose bones are still growing. It can develop in any bone but is usually found in the arms and legs, particularly around the knee joint.
Little is known about the causes of osteosarcoma but it may relate to changes when the bones are growing. There is no evidence that an injury or knock to the bone causes cancer. There may be a link to rare genetic conditions such as Li-Fraumeni syndrome or to pre-existing bone disease.
Symptoms
The signs and symptoms of osteosarcoma will depend on the size of the cancer and where it is in the body. The main symptoms are:
- bone pain in the affected area; in many patients this grows more severe over time and is especially bad at night
- swelling or tenderness in the affected area
- if the cancer is affecting a joint, there may be problem with moving that joint.
Other less common symptoms include:
- fever
- a feeling of exhaustion
- weight loss.
As tumours grow, they can also put pressure on the soft tissues around them, causing swelling and pain. Some osteosarcomas cause no symptoms at all, but weaken the affected bone. This means that it is at risk of fracturing.
If you have a lump near a bone or a joint that seems to be growing in size or is painful or are suffering from bone pain particularly at night, it is important to make an appointment to see your GP.
These symptoms, however, can be caused by a wide range of conditions and many patients who experience them will not have osteosarcoma. Pain and swellings, for example, can be the result of sports injuries.