Pediatric Bone Cancers

Osteosarcoma and Ewing's sarcoma are the most common malignancies of bone tissues in children. Osteosarcoma, the more common of the two types, usually presents in bones around the knee. Ewing's sarcoma may affect bones of the pelvis, thigh, upper arm, or ribs

Symptoms of Bone Cancer

Symptoms can include:

• pain in a bone (the most common symptom)
• stiffness, swelling or tenderness around a bone or joint
• interference with normal movements
• weak bones, leading to fractures
• fatigue, fever, weight loss, anemia

Bone pain is the most common symptom. Sometimes a lump can be felt on the bone, or the tumor will interfere with normal movements. What often happens is that a child injures themselves while playing, and the pain persists long after the injury should have healed. Parents assume that the pain is from a broken bone and take the child to the doctor for evaluation, at which time X-rays reveal a bone tumor