Cancer Support Group

One of the most common symptoms for bone cancer is pain in one or more bones. Sometimes this pain comes in waves and it often intensifies in the night time hours. As the cancer grows, this local pain can eventually become a more constant pain. Bone pain is usually not, however, a symptom of bone cancer, it is also associated with arthritis or physical injuries.

But if these symptoms persist for a long time and it becomes more and more certain that they are not associated with benign conditions, a specific test for bone cancer should be requested. It is possible as well to notice swelling or even a lump on the affected bone. The more generalized symptoms associated with a bone cancer that has already spread to other areas includes fatigue, weight loss and fever.

If one or more of these symptoms persist, a doctor can then determine the presence of bone cancer using x–rays, a CT scan, or an MRI, followed by a biopsy of the affected area.

Although the initial signs of bone marrow cancer can differ from one person to another, some of the common symptoms are fever, loss of weight, loss of appetite, and fatigue. The problem is that these initial signs of bone marrow cancer can be so subtle and erratic that the affected person usually delays seeing a doctor until the cancer has spread to other parts. Another problem is that these symptoms can indicate something else apart from cancer. Hence, only a trained physician will be able to diagnose accurately whether these symptoms are of bone marrow cancer.

Some of the other bone marrow cancer symptoms are: pain, a hard lump on the affected bone; tenderness, stiffness, or swelling in the bone, usually near or inside a joint, frequent fractures for no reason, anemia, or low red blood cells, a lowering in the resistance to infections, dizziness, shortness of breath, and general weakness.