Hip bone cancer results from the malignant growth of a tumor in the hip bone. Cancers arising in the bone, which are known as primary bone cancers, are very rare, accounting for less than 1 percent of all cancers, according to the National Cancer Institute. Doctors diagnose approximately 2,300 new cases of primary bone cancer each year in the United States.
Pain
The most common symptom of hip bone cancer is pain, which is usually localized to the site of the tumor. Patients with bone cancer often describe the pain as achy and dull, reports the University of Connecticut Health Center. The pain may worsen with activity or may be unaffected by activity. The pain can be severe enough to wake patients from sleep during the night. In some cases, the tumor does not cause any pain until another injury occurs near the tumor, causing the tumor to begin hurting.
Bone Weakness
As the tumor grows and spreads through the hip, the hip bone can become weak and structurally unsound. As a result, hip bone cancer causes an increased risk of fracture of the hip bone, the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center explains. A broken hip causes intense pain and severe debilitation.
Additional Symptoms
Hip bone cancer can also cause more general symptoms, including fevers and nights sweats, which are periods of intense sweating that occur during sleep, explains the University of Connecticut Health Center. Cancer of the hip bone may also cause fatigue and general lack of energy. The area around the tumor may also become inflamed and swell. In some cases, hip bone cancer can affect how people walk, causing stumbling, the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center reports.
References
- National Cancer Institute: Bone Cancer: Questions and Answers
- University of Connecticut Health Center: Bone Tumors and Oncology Conditions and Treatments
- Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center: Bone Cancer - Symptoms
- Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center: Bone Cancer - Overview
- University of California-San Diego Health Library: Hip Problems, Age 12 and Older
