Any body can have bone pain specially in old age. Any pain which occurs in resting state (during sleep) may be a sign of cancer. Bone pain in younger age or any bony swelling in younger age should not be neglected. Osteosarcoma and Ewings sarcoma (type of bone cancers) usually occur in young age and are mis-diagnosed as osteomilitis (infection of bone).
Bone pain in elders specially back pain usually occurs because of osteoporosis (decreased density of bones), but it may occur because of cancer too. In elders cancer in bones usually comes from other organs like lungs, prostate, stomach, breast etc. Therefore, kindly do not neglect bone pain and consult doctor if it persists for a long time.