A very small number of bone cancers appear to be caused by changes (mutations) in certain genes. But the exact cause of most bone cancers is not known. We do know that certain risk factors are linked to this disease. A risk factor is something that affects a person's chance of getting a disease. Some risk factors, like smoking, can be controlled. Others, like a person's age or race, can't be changed. But having a risk factor, or even several, does not mean that you will get cancer. Most people with bone cancer do not have any known risk factors.
The risk factors for bone cancer are often linked to having had other diseases, treatments for other diseases, or age. The following conditions can increase the risk of bone cancer. If you have any of these, you should ask your doctor for more information.
- Li-Fraumeni syndrome
- Rothmund-Thomson syndrome
- Retinoblastoma (a rare eye cancer of children)
- Paget disease
- Multiple exostoses syndrome, also called multiple osteochondromas (an inherited condition that causes many bumps on a person's bones)
- Multiple enchondromatosis (many benign cartilage tumors)
People who have been treated with radiation for an earlier cancer have a higher risk of getting bone cancer later. Being treated at a younger age or being treated with high doses of radiation increases the risk of bone cancer. Non-ionizing radiation, such as microwaves, electromagnetic fields from power lines, cell phones, and household appliances, does not increase bone cancer risk.
Osteosarcoma has been reported in a few people who have had bone marrow (stem cell) transplantation.
There is no evidence to show that an injury to a bone can lead to bone cancer.
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