Bone pain is the most common symptom of bone cancer. It usually begins with a feeling of tenderness in the affected bone, and then gradually progresses to a persistent ache that often feels worse during the night and when using the affected bone.
In cases of Ewing sarcoma, bone pain is a symptom that usually gets worse quite quickly.
Bone pain that is caused by bone cancer is sometimes wrongly mistaken for arthritis in adults and "growing pains" in children and teenagers.
If you have bone cancer, you may also experience swelling and redness (inflammation) or detect a noticeable lump on or around the affected bone. If the bone is near a joint, the swelling may make using the joint difficult.
In some cases the cancer can weaken a bone so it can become fractured or broken after a minor injury or fall.
Less common symptoms of bone cancer include:
- a high temperature (fever) of 38C (100.4F) or above
- unexplained weight loss
- sweating; usually at night
When to seek medical advice
If your child is experiencing persistent bone pain that lasts for more than three days, take them to visit your GP. Bone pain is unlikely to be the result of growing pains if it lasts longer than three days and, while it is highly unlikely to be the result of bone cancer, it does require further investigation such as an X-ray.
You should also visit your GP if you are an adult and you experience persistent bone pain. While the majority of cases of bone pain are caused by arthritis, the symptom requires a medical diagnosis. If you have arthritis, you will also benefit from having an early diagnosis.
