Cancer that starts in the marrow of a person's bones is not very common. Cancer that has spread to the bone marrow from other areas of the body is the more common of the two. However, the signs and symptoms are often very similar between both types, whether it has spread from another area or began in the actual bone marrow. When it begins in the marrow, it is actually growing inside the bones. Because the primary function of bone marrow is to create new blood cells, a broad range of symptoms are associated with this type of cancer.In addition, there are numerous types of this specific cancer. One of the rarest types is multiple myeloma. This typically affects plasma cells, which are the white blood cells that help the immune system fight diseases and infections. When multiple myeloma is present, cancerous plasma cells essentially eat up healthy, normal ones and weaken or destroy the person's bones in the process.
Certain non-Hodgkin's lymphomas are also considered bone marrow cancers. They most commonly begin in the lymph glands, but it is possible for this type of cancer to first appear in the bone marrow as well. This kind of bone marrow cancer primarily attacks white blood cells.
