Print OverviewEwing (YOO-ing) sarcoma is a rare type of cancer that occurs in bones or in the soft tissue around the bones. Ewing sarcoma most often begins in the leg bones and in the pelvis, but it can occur in any bone. Less often, it starts in the soft tissues of the chest, abdomen, limbs or other locations. Ewing sarcoma is more common in children and teenagers, but it can occur at any age. Major advancements in the treatment of Ewing sarcoma have helped to improve the outlook for people with this cancer. After completion of treatment, lifelong monitoring is recommended to watch for potential late effects of intense chemotherapy and radiation.Products & ServicesA Book: Mayo Clinic Family Health Book, 5th EditionNewsletter: Mayo Clinic Health Letter — Digital EditionShow more products from Mayo Clinic SymptomsSigns and symptoms of Ewing sarcoma include: Pain, swelling or tenderness near the affected area Bone pain Unexplained tiredness Fever with no known cause Losing weight without trying When to see a doctorMake an appointment with your doctor if you or your child experiences any persistent signs and symptoms that worry you. CausesIt's not clear what causes Ewing sarcoma. Doctors know that Ewing sarcoma begins when a cell develops changes in its DNA. A cell's DNA contains the instructions that tell a cell what to do. The changes tell the cell to multiply quickly and to go on living when healthy cells would normally die. The result is a mass (tumor) of abnormal cells that can invade and destroy healthy body tissue. The abnormal cells can break away and spread (metastasize) throughout the body. In Ewing sarcoma, the DNA changes most often affect a gene called EWSR1. If your doctor suspects that you have Ewing sarcoma, your cancer cells may be tested to look for changes in this gene. Risk factorsRisk factors for Ewing sarcoma include: Your age. Ewing sarcoma can occur at any age, but it is more likely to occur in children and teenagers. Your ancestry. Ewing sarcoma is more common in people of European ancestry. It's much less common in people of African and East Asian ancestry. ComplicationsComplications of Ewing sarcoma and its treatment include: Cancer that spreads (metastasizes). Ewing sarcoma can spread from where it started to other areas, making treatment and recovery more difficult. Ewing sarcoma most often spreads to the lungs and to other bones. Long-term treatment side effects. The aggressive treatments needed to control Ewing sarcoma can cause substantial side effects, both in the short and long term. Your health care team can help you manage the side effects that happen during treatment and provide you with a list of side effects to watch for in the years after treatment. By Mayo Clinic Staff Ewing sarcoma care at Mayo Clinic Request an appointment Diagnosis & treatment Jan. 07, 2022 Print Living with ewing sarcoma? Connect with others like you for support and answers to your questions in the Cancer support group on Mayo Clinic Connect, a patient community. Cancer Discussions Husband diagnosed with bladder cancer: I feel so alone 60 Replies Thu, Dec 07, 2023 chevron-right Myxofibrosarcoma: What treatments did you have? 61 Replies Thu, Dec 07, 2023 chevron-right Want to connect with kidney cancer patients 163 Replies Thu, Dec 07, 2023 chevron-right See more discussions Show references AskMayoExpert. Musculoskeletal tumors. Mayo Clinic; 2018. Bone cancer. National Comprehensive Cancer Network. https://www.nccn.org/professionals/physician_gls/default.aspx. Accessed Oct. 31, 2019. Niederhuber JE, et al., eds. Sarcomas of bone. In: Abeloff's Clinical Oncology. 6th ed. Elsevier; 2020. https://www.clinicalkey.com. Accessed Oct. 31, 2019. Orkin SH, et al., eds. Ewing sarcoma. In: Nathan and Oski's Hematology and Oncology of Infancy and Childhood. 8th ed. Saunders Elsevier; 2015. https://www.clinicalkey.com. Accessed Oct. 31, 2019. Cash T, et al. Comparison of clinical features and outcomes in patients with extraskeletal versus skeletal localized Ewing sarcoma: A report from the Children's Oncology Group. Pediatric Blood & Cancer. 2016; doi:10.1002/pbc.26096. NCCN member institutions. National Comprehensive Cancer Network. https://www.nccn.org/members/network.aspx. Accessed Oct. 31, 2019. Locations. Children's Oncology Group. https://www.childrensoncologygroup.org/index.php/locations. Accessed Oct. 31, 2019. Warner KJ. Allscripts EPSi. Mayo Clinic. July 18, 2019. Related Associated Procedures Bone scan Chemotherapy CT scan MRI Needle biopsy Positron emission tomography scan Radiation therapy Show more associated procedures Products & Services A Book: Mayo Clinic Family Health Book, 5th Edition Newsletter: Mayo Clinic Health Letter — Digital Edition Show more products and services from Mayo Clinic Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida, and Mayo Clinic in Phoenix/Scottsdale, Arizona, have been recognized among the top Cancer hospitals in the nation for 2023-2024 by U.S. News & World Report. Learn more about this top honor Ewing sarcomaSymptoms&causesDiagnosis&treatmentDoctors&departmentsCare atMayoClinic Advertisement Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products. Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission. 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