They only make up 0.2% of the overall number of cancer cases. ("University of Rochester Medical Center”) Around three thousand people will be diagnosed this year and about half that number will die. ("University of Rochester Medical Center”) The most common bone cancer, Chondrosarcoma, accounts for 40% of cases. ("University of Rochester Medical Center”) However, in those under 20 Osteosarcoma, the second most common overall, is first with 56% of cases. ("University of Rochester Medical Center”) The causes of bone cancer are currently unknown. While there are risk factors associated with bone cancer their is no known cause. In addition, many of those with bone cancer don’t have any of the risk factors. Research into the cause of bone cancers has not yet been completed. Bone cancer occurs when a mutation throws off cells’ balance of oncogenes, genes that promote division, and tumor suppressor genes, genes that limit division. If the oncogenes are not kept in check by the tumor suppressor genes the cell will divide repeatedly, becoming a …show more content…
Some bone cancer’s are caused by inherited mutations; most, however, occur for no apparent reason. Because these mutations of unknown cause are only present in the cancer cells their mutations cannot be passed on. Scientists are still studying bone cancer to determine the cause of these seemingly random, non-hereditary, mutations. Bone cancer has surprisingly few symptoms before the development of secondary tumors. At first the cancer only causes slight pain. This pain intensifies over time as the cancer grows. Eventually, the tumor grows large enough to threaten the integrity of the bone, possibly leading to a fracture. Because it has relatively minor symptoms bone cancer can be hard to detect. However, the pain it causes isn’t