The National Cancer Institute reports that bone cancer is rare: it accounts for less than 1 percent of cancers. About 2,300 people are diagnosed with primary bone cancer each year. Bone cancer can also occur as a secondary cancer, meaning the cancer has metastasized from elsewhere in the body. There are several signs and symptoms of bone cancer, which depend on the location and severity of the cancer.
Swelling or Lump
According to the Mayo Clinic, one possible symptom of bone cancer is a lump or swelling at the affected area. Merck Manuals adds that the lump may occur without any pain. The National Cancer Institute reports that an indicator of bone cancer versus other causes of pain and swelling are two-fold: the swelling or lump is persistent and does not go away, and there is no obvious or apparent cause of the swelling or lump.
Pain
The National Cancer Institute reports that the most common symptom of bone cancer is pain at the affected area. The Mayo Clinic adds that the swelling of the affected site may be painful. The National Cancer Institute notes that not all bone cancers are painful. Merck Manuals says that even if the lump occurs without pain at first, it often becomes painful as the cancer progresses. Additionally, the pain may occur (or worsen) while at rest or during the night. The pain often gets progressively worse as the cancer grows.
Weakened Bones
Merck Manuals and the Mayo Clinic report that a cancerous bone tumor may weaken the bone. This may cause the bone to be easily fractured. There may even be a fracture with no or very little apparent stress as the cause.
