Types of bone cancer
The bone tissue has different cells, as noted above. Thus, there are different types of bone cancer depending on where it develops and how. The main types are as follows:
- Osteosarcoma: It is the most common type of bone cancer (still, bone cancer incidence remains quite rare). This type of cancer starts in bone cells, usually before age 30 years. It is more common in males, and typically appears in large bones of the legs and arms. It may also develop in the pelvis.
- Chondrosarcoma: It is technically cartilage cancer, but cartilage can be considered a bone-like structure. This is the second most common type of bone cancer, and it usually develops in young adults and middle-aged adults. It is more common in women, and it is more common in articulations of the legs and arms. However, it can also develop in the larynx, trachea, or the chest wall.
- Ewing tumor: This is the third most common type of bone cancer. It mostly develops in teenagers and children, and it becomes rare after age 30 years. It is associated with genetic mutations, and it is more common in white people. This type of tumor can run in families.
- Malignant fibrous histiocytoma: This is also a possibility in bone tissue, although very rare. It mainly affects the arms and legs of middle-aged adults. This type is easily spread to other tissues, especially the lungs.
- Other types of bone cancer: Still, other rare types of bone cancer can be found, such as chordomas in the base of the skull, fibrosarcomas in the jaw, or giant cell tumors, which develop benignant and malignant tumors. In some cases, the well-known non-Hodgkin lymphoma starts in the bone tissue instead of the lymph nodes.