In addition to higher incidence rates, men also are likely to be diagnosed with all types of musculoskeletal system tumors a few years younger than women. Myeloma, the most common of the musculoskeletal system cancers, is primarily a disease of the elderly, while soft tissue cancers in middle age, and cancers of bones and joints in children and young adults.    

Men have a slightly lower 5-year survival rate for bone and joint cancers and soft-tissue cancers, both of which have a survival rate of 64% to 70%. Women have a slightly lower 5-year survival rate for myeloma, which has a rate of 42% to 44%. (Reference Table 9A.7 PDF CSV)