spread to the bones from somewhere else. This is called metastatic cancer.
For example, if someone has lung cancer that has spread to bone, the cells of the cancer in the bone still look and act like lung cancer cells
multiple myeloma
start in the blood forming cells of the bone marrow .
Multiple myeloma, lymphoma, lymphomas and leukemia can also start in the bone marrow as well but are not bone cancers.
primary bone tumor starts in the bone itself. True (or primary) bone cancers are called sarcomas. Sarcomas are cancers that start in bone, muscle, fibrous tissue, blood vessels, fat tissue, as well as some other tissues. They can develop anywhere in the body.
Tumors: benign (not cancerous), and others are malignant (cancerous)
Benign bone tumorsBenign tumors do not spread to other tissues and organs and so are not usually life threatening.
Malignant bone tumors
Osteosarcoma: Osteosarcoma (also called osteogenic sarcoma) is the most common primary bone cancer. This cancer starts in the bone cells. These tumors develop most often in bones of the arms, legs, or pelvis.
Chondrosarcoma: Chondrosarcoma is a cancer of cartilage cells. It is the second most common primary bone cancer.
Chondrosarcomas can develop anywhere there is cartilage. Most develop in bones such as the pelvis, leg bone or arm bone. Occasionally, chondrosarcoma will develop in the trachea, larynx, and chest wall. Other sites are the scapula (shoulder blade), ribs, or skull.
Benign tumors of cartilage are more common than malignant ones. These are called enchondromas. Another type of benign tumor that has cartilage is a bony projection capped by cartilage called an osteochondroma. These benign tumors rarely turn into cancer. There is a slightly higher chance of cancer developing in people who have many of these tumors.
Chondrosarcomas are classified by grade, which measures how fast they grow. The lower the grade, the slower the cancer grows. When a cancer is slow growing, the chance that it will spread is lower. Most chondrosarcomas are grade I or grade II. Grade III chondrosarcomas are less common.
Chordoma: This primary tumor of bone usually occurs in the base of the skull and bones of the spine. It develops most often in adults older than 30, and is about twice as common in men than in women. Chordomas tend to grow slowly and often do not spread to other parts of the body, but they often come back in the same area if they are not removed completely. When they do spread, lymph nodes, the lungs, and the liver are the most common areas for secondary tumors.
Giant cell tumor of bone: This type of primary bone tumor has benign and malignant forms. The benign (non-cancerous) form is most common. Giant cell bone tumors typically affect the leg (usually near the knees) or arm bones of young and middle-aged adults. They don't often spread to distant sites, but tend to come back where they started after surgery (this is called local recurrence). This can happen several times. With each recurrence, the tumor becomes more likely to spread to other parts of the body. Rarely, a giant cell bone tumor spreads to other parts of the body without first recurring locally. This happens in the malignant (cancer) form of the tumor.
occasionally primary:
Malignant fibrous histiocytoma: Malignant fibrous histiocytoma (MFH) more often starts in soft tissue (connective tissues such as ligaments, tendons, fat, and muscle) than in bones. This cancer is also known as pleomorphic undifferentiated sarcoma, especially when it starts in soft tissues. When MFH occurs in bones, it usually affects the legs (often around the knees) or arms. This cancer most often occurs in elderly and middle-aged adults
tends to grow locally, but it can spread to distant sites, like the lungs.
Fibrosarcoma:
Fibrosarcoma usually occurs in elderly and middle-aged adults. Leg, arm, and jaw bones are the ones most often affected.
citation
"What Is Bone Cancer?" What Is Bone Cancer? N.p., n.d. Web. 01 Dec. 2013.
http://www.cancer.org/cancer/bonecancer/detailedguide/bone-cancer-what-is-bone-cancer
For example, if someone has lung cancer that has spread to bone, the cells of the cancer in the bone still look and act like lung cancer cells
multiple myeloma
start in the blood forming cells of the bone marrow .
Multiple myeloma, lymphoma, lymphomas and leukemia can also start in the bone marrow as well but are not bone cancers.
primary bone tumor starts in the bone itself. True (or primary) bone cancers are called sarcomas. Sarcomas are cancers that start in bone, muscle, fibrous tissue, blood vessels, fat tissue, as well as some other tissues. They can develop anywhere in the body.
Tumors: benign (not cancerous), and others are malignant (cancerous)
Benign bone tumorsBenign tumors do not spread to other tissues and organs and so are not usually life threatening.
Malignant bone tumors
Osteosarcoma: Osteosarcoma (also called osteogenic sarcoma) is the most common primary bone cancer. This cancer starts in the bone cells. These tumors develop most often in bones of the arms, legs, or pelvis.
Chondrosarcoma: Chondrosarcoma is a cancer of cartilage cells. It is the second most common primary bone cancer.
Chondrosarcomas can develop anywhere there is cartilage. Most develop in bones such as the pelvis, leg bone or arm bone. Occasionally, chondrosarcoma will develop in the trachea, larynx, and chest wall. Other sites are the scapula (shoulder blade), ribs, or skull.
Benign tumors of cartilage are more common than malignant ones. These are called enchondromas. Another type of benign tumor that has cartilage is a bony projection capped by cartilage called an osteochondroma. These benign tumors rarely turn into cancer. There is a slightly higher chance of cancer developing in people who have many of these tumors.
Chondrosarcomas are classified by grade, which measures how fast they grow. The lower the grade, the slower the cancer grows. When a cancer is slow growing, the chance that it will spread is lower. Most chondrosarcomas are grade I or grade II. Grade III chondrosarcomas are less common.
- Dedifferentiated chondrosarcomas start out as typical chondrosarcomas but then some parts of the tumor change into cells like those of a high grade sarcoma (such as high grade forms of malignant fibrous histiocytoma, osteosarcoma, or fibrosarcoma).
- Clear cell chondrosarcoma is a rare variant that grows slowly. It rarely spreads to other parts of the body unless it has already come back several times in the original location.
- Mesenchymal chondrosarcomas can grow rapidly, but like Ewing tumor, are sensitive to treatment with radiation and chemotherapy.
Chordoma: This primary tumor of bone usually occurs in the base of the skull and bones of the spine. It develops most often in adults older than 30, and is about twice as common in men than in women. Chordomas tend to grow slowly and often do not spread to other parts of the body, but they often come back in the same area if they are not removed completely. When they do spread, lymph nodes, the lungs, and the liver are the most common areas for secondary tumors.
Giant cell tumor of bone: This type of primary bone tumor has benign and malignant forms. The benign (non-cancerous) form is most common. Giant cell bone tumors typically affect the leg (usually near the knees) or arm bones of young and middle-aged adults. They don't often spread to distant sites, but tend to come back where they started after surgery (this is called local recurrence). This can happen several times. With each recurrence, the tumor becomes more likely to spread to other parts of the body. Rarely, a giant cell bone tumor spreads to other parts of the body without first recurring locally. This happens in the malignant (cancer) form of the tumor.
occasionally primary:
Malignant fibrous histiocytoma: Malignant fibrous histiocytoma (MFH) more often starts in soft tissue (connective tissues such as ligaments, tendons, fat, and muscle) than in bones. This cancer is also known as pleomorphic undifferentiated sarcoma, especially when it starts in soft tissues. When MFH occurs in bones, it usually affects the legs (often around the knees) or arms. This cancer most often occurs in elderly and middle-aged adults
tends to grow locally, but it can spread to distant sites, like the lungs.
Fibrosarcoma:
Fibrosarcoma usually occurs in elderly and middle-aged adults. Leg, arm, and jaw bones are the ones most often affected.
citation
"What Is Bone Cancer?" What Is Bone Cancer? N.p., n.d. Web. 01 Dec. 2013.
http://www.cancer.org/cancer/bonecancer/detailedguide/bone-cancer-what-is-bone-cancer