The most common symptom is pain in the affected bone or joint that doesn’t improve with mild pain medicines such as paracetamol. You might have this pain most of the time, and it may be worse at night or during activity.
Other symptoms can include:
- swelling over the affected part of the bone
- stiffness or tenderness in the bone
- problems moving around (e.g. walking with a limp)
- loss of feeling in the affected arm or leg (limb)
- bone that breaks for no reason.
These symptoms do not necessarily mean you have primary bone cancer. If your symptoms last longer than 2 weeks, you should see your doctor.
Key resource
Download a PDF booklet on this topic.
More resources
All updated content has been clinically reviewed by Prof Peter Choong AO, Orthopaedic Surgeon, and Sir Hugh Devine Professor, St Vincent’s Hospital, and Head of Department of Surgery, The University of Melbourne, VIC. This edition is based on the previous edition, which was reviewed by the following panel: Prof Peter Choong AO (see above); Catherine Chapman, Adolescent and Young Adult and Sarcoma Cancer Specialist Nurse, Division of Cancer and Ambulatory Support, Canberra Hospital, ACT; A/Prof Paul Craft AM, Medical Oncologist, Canberra Hospital and Australian National University, ACT; Belinda Fowlie, Bone Tumour Nurse Practitioner Candidate, SA Bone and Soft Tissue Tumour Unit, Flinders Medical Centre, SA; Prof Angela Hong, Radiation Oncologist, Chris O’Brien Lifehouse, and Clinical Professor, The University of Sydney, NSW; Vicki Moss, Nurse Practitioner, SA Bone and Soft Tissue Tumour Unit, Flinders Medical Centre, SA; A/Prof and Dr Marianne Phillips, Paediatric and Adolescent Oncologist and Palliative Care Physician, Perth Children’s Hospital, WA; Chris Sibthorpe, 13 11 20 Consultant, Cancer Council Queensland; Stephanie Webster, Consumer. We would also like to thank the health professionals and consumers who have worked on previous versions of this information.
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