There may or may not be a mass over the tumor site on the bone. Moving or placing weight on the limb usually causes more pain. Sometimes children avoid walking, or they might limp. The area around the tumor may be red or puffy, and there may be a pulse at the site. The signs and symptoms can be present for as long as six months before the tumor is diagnosed.
Case studies do show some families with a higher incidence of osteogenic sarcoma.
This has been linked to the rapid growth spurts that children experience during puberty. Often children with osteogenic sarcoma are tall compared to their peers, and females are at a higher risk for osteo early in puberty or before because of their advanced development. However, the numbers of osteo cases in boys gets larger throughout puberty while the number in girls stays about the same. Metastases refers to the spread of cancer from its original site to other parts of the body. About 10 to 20 percent of all patients have metastases when they are diagnosed.