Bone cancer is a rare type of cancer that forms as a painful lump (‘tumour') in bone. It's also known as bone sarcoma. When a bone cancer begins to grow, the cancer cells multiply and start to destroy the bone. The affected bone becomes weak and starts to cause problems.
The most common places where bone cancer develops are around the knee, the wrist, the shoulder and the pelvis. There are more than 30 types of bone cancer.
Incidence
Bone cancer is rare. About 40 Victorians are diagnosed with some type of primary bone cancer each year.
Research funded
$2.1 million has been given to fund research specifically into bone cancer.
In addition, more than $16.2 million has been spent on research projects looking into the detection and treatment of all tumour types (including bone).
Overall, Cancer Council
Victoria has funded $69 million worth of
lab-based research in Victorian hospitals, universities and research
institutions since 2003.
More on external research funded per tumour type.