Many primary bone cancer patients tell us they had never heard of bone cancer until they were diagnosed.
According to our research, 76% of primary bone cancer cases are initially misdiagnosed and patients, on average, visit healthcare professionals eight times before being referred. For this to change, we need to raise more awareness about primary bone cancer amongst the general public and healthcare communities.
From 7th - 13th October 2024, please support our Ever Heard of Bone Cancer? campaign for #BoneCancerAwarenessWeek and help save lives.
Jessica's story...
Jessica Lane was diagnosed with osteosarcoma in September 2022 shortly after giving birth to her first child.
Jessica's symptoms began over six months before her diagnosis. She was routinely dismissed by her GP, midwife, and even paramedics when her arm had broken.
It is vital that healthcare professionals are able to spot the red-flag symptoms of primary bone cancer to minimise the severe and life-threatening consequences of delayed diagnosis. This includes limited treatment options, poor quality of life, and reduced life expectancy.
Wear a ribbon, save a life
This October, we are proud to unveil our first-ever awareness ribbon!
When you wear a ribbon, you are doing more than supporting our cause. Each ribbon worn has the power to raise awareness, support patients, and spark life-saving conversations that could support early diagnosis.
Purchase yours today and wear it proudly during #BoneCancerAwarenessWeek and beyond to help save lives.
Educate yourself
Primary bone cancers are cancers that originate in a cell found in the bone. They can develop in any bone in the body, though over a third of cases (34%) are found in the long bones of the lower body - such as the thigh (femur) or shin bone (tibia). There are several types of primary bone cancer, below are links to find out more about each form. The most common are:
There are also several less common forms of tumours, these are:
- Spindle Cell Sarcoma of the Bone
- Adamantinoma
- Angiosarcoma of the Bone
- Giant Cell Tumour of the Bone (a non-cancerous tumour)
- Ameloblastoma (a non-cancerous tumour)
Our graphic below shows the presenting symptoms to be aware of:
Enjoy a coffee and cake on us
To show our support in #BoneCancerAwarenessWeek, we are providing free £10 Costa Coffee vouchers to bone cancer and tumour patients.
Whether you're undergoing treatment or attending hospital visits, take a moment to relax and unwind from 7th - 13th October.
Relaunch of symptoms flashcard
We are excited to announce the relaunch of our symptoms flashcard tool, designed to help healthcare professionals quickly recognise the red-flag symptoms of primary bone cancer.
The symptoms of primary bone cancer can be similar to common conditions such as sports injuries, growing pains, tendonitis or arthritis. This resource is here to support you in identifying the subtle yet critical indicators.
Raise awareness on social media
Throughout the week we will be sharing inspirational stories, research news, and information to help raise life-saving bone cancer awareness amongst the public.
Get involved on Facebook, X, Instagram, LinkedIn and TikTok by sharing, liking and commenting on posts to help us reach as many people as possible!