What is a Sarcoma?

A Sarcoma is a rare form of cancer that can develop in several areas, including:

Muscle,

Bone,

Cartilage and Tendons,

Nerves,

Blood vessels,

And the fatty and fibrous tissues.

There are around 100 different types of sarcoma- however, these are broadly grouped into three different types: soft tissue sarcoma, bone sarcoma and gastrointestinal stromal tumours (GIST).

It is possible for a sarcoma to develop on almost anywhere of the body, and they can be both external or internal. However, sarcomas are most commonly seen on the torso or limbs.

Only approximately 1% of new cancer diagnoses are sarcomas, which results in only around 3,800 new cases of sarcoma each year in the UK. As a result of this rarity, there needs to be far more research in order to understand how to effectively treat them, and to raise awareness among both the public and the medical community of the warning signs.

The size of the tumour is one of the biggest indicators of survival rate, as the earlier it’s caught, the better the odds of successful treatment. Waiting longer for a diagnosis can also lead to further complications, such as an increased risk of metastases, so the best route to survival remains an early diagnosis, and quick referral to sarcoma specialists.

Sarcoma.org.uk is a charity that is dedicated to raising awareness of sarcoma, and fighting to reduce the time it takes to diagnose, whilst also funding research and giving support to those impacted by the disease. Here are some signs and symptoms that they say to look out for when watching out for sarcomas:

• A lump which is growing, changing, or bigger than a golf ball
• Swelling, tenderness or pain in or around the bone which may come and go and may be worse at night
• Stomach pain, feeling sick, loss of appetite or feeling full after eating only a small amount of food
• Blood in either your faeces or vomit

This list is not exhaustive, and there are other ways that sarcomas can present. It’s also important to remember that sarcomas are very rare, and most lumps and pains can be explained by other reasons.

If you do become aware of a lump, it’s good to keep track of its size, shape, and location, so that if you do need to get it seen by a GP, they have a better idea of the symptoms and how they’ve developed.  

If you or a family member has any of the above symptoms, please seek medical advice as soon as possible.

Moosa-Duke Solicitors is a specialist firm of clinical negligence lawyers with extensive experience in claims involving cancer misdiagnosis and delay in diagnosis. If you are concerned about the care that you or a family member has received in relation to a sarcoma diagnosis, please contact our specialist team on 0116 254 7456 for a no-obligation consultation.