Bone cancer in the bones of the hand, coloured X- ray. The cancerous tumours (yellow) are in the metacarpal (palm) and phalanges (finger and thumb) bones. These are secondary tumours, and have spread to the hand from a primary bone cancer in the leg. The spread of a malignant cancer from one part of the body to another is known as metastasis. Bone cancer causes pain in the affected bone, and the bone becomes weakened and may fracture spontaneously. If a cancer has spread beyond its initial site, the prognosis is poor. Radiotherapy and chemotherapy may be used to slow its progress.