There are over 200 bones in the body. They protect internal organs, act as levers for muscles and produce and store blood cells in the spongy tissue of the bone, the bone marrow. What is Bone Cancer ? There are two main types of bone cancer - Primary and Secondary bone cancer. Primary bone cancer - Rare cancer which starts in the bone. Secondary bone cancer (Metastic) - More common cancer which spreads to the bones from somewhere else in the body. Types of Bone Cancer ? Primary bone cancers are called sarcomas of which the most common are Osteosarcoma, Ewings Sarcoma and Chondrosarcoma. - Osteosarcoma. Most common primary bone cancer. Usually starts in the ends of bones where new tissue is formed. Affects who? Usually between the ages of 10 and 25. Affects more Male than Female. Which bones? Arms, legs, knees. - Ewings sarcoma. Starts/forms in the middle part of the bone. Affects who? Usually between the ages of 10 and 25. Teenagers are mostly affected. Which bones? Hip, thigh, upper arm, ribs. - Chondrosarcoma. Type of tumor that forms in the tissue round the joints, the cartilage. Affects who? Mainly adults between the ages of 50 and 60. Which bones? Joints, pelvis. - Other bone cancers. Fibrosarcoma, Chordoma, malignant giant cell tumor, multiple myeloma. The causes of Bone Cancer ? - Those that have radiation or chemotherapy for other conditions. - High risk for people with padgets disease. - Rare number of bone cancers are hereditary. - A blow or injury to affected bone. This is usually the case of discovery rather than the cause since cancers take a long time to grow. The Symptoms ? - Primary bone cancer. Pain, swelling, tenderness in affected area. - Secondary bone cancer. Pain in bones and joints usually worse in the night. Fragile weak bones and accidents such as a fracture without injury. Diagnosis of Bone Cancer ? The following tests may be carried out after pain and swelling: - Special imaging bone scan. MRI or CT(CAT) scan to see if the cancer has spread to another part of the body. - Blood and Urine tests. - Xrays to show location and size of bone tumor or cancer. - Bone Marrow biopsy where a sample of bone marrow is taken from the tender area to be examined for cancer cells, either by needle (needle biopsy) or by incision (incision biopsy). The Treatments ? - Radiation therapy. To shrink or slow growth of the cancer. - Chemotherapy. If the bone cancer started in other organs. - Hormone therapy. If the bone cancer started in the breasts or in the prostate gland. - Operation. To remove cancerous section of the bone only and possibly replacing with an artificial device called a prosthesis. The last-case scenario is amputation of the affected limb.