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Bone tumors can cause symptoms such as persistent pain and unintended weight loss, or they might only be discovered when someone breaks a bone and X-rays show a lesion. Wendy Allen-Rhoades, M.D., Ph.D., a pediatric oncologist at Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Center, describes the most common bone cancers in children and adults.

A bone tumor is an abnormal growth of cells within the bone. Some bone tumors are benign, or noncancerous, and may be monitored over time. Others are malignant, or cancerous, and require treatment because they can grow, damage the bone or spread to other parts of the body.

"Hearing that an imaging test found a bone tumor or bone lesion can be frightening. Fortunately, most bone tumors aren't cancerous," Allen-Rhoades says. "The key is finding out exactly what type of tumor or lesion you have, so your health care team can recommend the right care."

Primary bone cancer is different from cancer that has spread to the bone from another part of the body, Allen-Rhoades notes. Cancers are named for where they begin. For example, if lung cancer spreads to the bone, it's still lung cancer, not bone cancer. Likewise, if bone cancer spreads to the lungs, it's still bone cancer.

Pain in bones, muscles or joints is common and is usually caused by conditions other than cancer. Pain that worsens, doesn't improve, wakes you or comes with other symptoms, such as swelling, fever, weight loss or limping, deserves medical evaluation, Allen-Rhoades says.

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