Info
Bone cancer
Basics
What it means
Cancer that starts directly in the bone cells (for example osteosarcoma) or appears through the spread of a cancer from another organ (bone metastases, which are far more common). It shows up as persistent bone pain and, sometimes, fractures without significant trauma.
Related terms
The terms below often appear alongside this one. Each definition is right here, so you do not have to look elsewhere.
- Metastasis
- The spread of cancer cells from the site of origin to other organs or tissues. Metastases show that the disease has spread to distant sites and they influence the stage, the prognosis and the type of treatment recommended.
- Adenocarcinoma
- A subtype of carcinoma that arises in glandular cells, that is, cells that produce or secrete certain substances. It can appear in organs such as the lung, colon, pancreas or prostate.
- Benign tumor
- A growth that does not invade the surrounding tissues and does not produce metastases. Although it may sometimes need treatment or monitoring, a benign tumor is not considered cancer.
Other terms in “Basics”
Glossary definitions are written for patients by the OncoDots team and go through internal medical review. They explain terms; they do not establish a diagnosis and do not recommend a treatment.