Unlike some other cancers, there are no tests that can detect bone cancer early. The best thing to do is report symptoms to your doctor. The most common symptom is bone pain, which is not constant at first, but becomes constant as the cancer grows. Other symptoms include swelling, tenderness, difficulty with normal movement, fatigue and weight loss. Symptoms can appear in other areas of the body if the cancer has spread.
There are several tests physicians can use to further the diagnostic process and look for tumors. These include x-ray, CT, MRI, Radionuclide bone scan or PET scan. As with other cancers, the only way to know for sure is with a biopsy—a procedure in which a sample of the tumor is sent to the lab to be examined under a microscope. With a needle biopsy, a needle is used to remove a small amount of fluid and tissue from the suspect area. With a surgical biopsy, the doctor cuts through the skin to extract a small piece of the tumor.