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Primary bone cancer -- cancer that begins in bone tissue -- is relatively rare. Bone cancer can present itself in any of the bones of the body, but it is diagnosed most often in the long bones of the arms and legs. While it can start at any age, the most common types of bone cancer occur in children and young adults.

In this section, you can find information about our expertise in treating adults with bone cancer, our services, and our research. For information on pediatric bone cancers, you may also visit the section on sarcomas in the Pediatric Cancer Care section of this Web site.

  • Our Approach & Expertise
    Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center has extensive experience in treating patients with bone cancer. Each patient's care is delivered in a way that ensures optimal quality of life, preserving form and function whenever possible. Each patient's care is delivered in a way that ensures optimal quality of life, preserving form and function whenever possible.
  • Our Team of Experts
    Our Primary Bone Disease Management Team is recognized worldwide for its strengths in diagnosing and treating tumors of the bone.
  • Overview
    Primary bone cancer can grow in any of the 206 bones of the adult human body, but it occurs most often in the long bones of the arms and legs. Although bone cancer can present itself at any age, the most common types occur in children and young adults.
  • Risk Factors
    Among those who develop bone cancer, 95 percent of people do not have any obvious risk factors. While scientists are not certain what causes bone cancer, a number of factors that may increase a person's risk have been identified.
  • Symptoms
    The most common symptom of bone cancer is pain, which is caused either by the spread of the tumor or by the breaking of bone that is weakened by a tumor. Stiffness or tenderness in the bone may also occur.
  • Diagnosis
    Physical examination, blood testing, and imaging tests such as x-rays, bone scans, CT, MRI, and PET scans may be performed to diagnose bone cancer. A biopsy is done to confirm the diagnosis.
  • Treatment
    Treatment for primary bone cancer can include chemotherapy, surgery, radiation therapy, or a combination of treatments.
  • Our Clinical Trials
    A continually updated listing of Memorial Sloan-Kettering's current clinical trials for primary bone cancer.
  • Survivorship & Support
    In many cases, doctors can preserve a limb affected by bone cancer. Many patients who lose a limb or part of a limb to bone cancer resume active, even athletic, lives.

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