Publish date: 28 July 2021
Do you know what a sarcoma is? Three-quarters of people have never heard of these types of cancer.
Sarcomas are malignant tumours derived from mesenchymal cells (bone, cartilage, blood vessels, muscle, fat, nerves and connective tissue, including that present in the organs) and can develop at any site in the body.
There are many different types of sarcomas, but they are usually grouped into soft tissue sarcomas or bone sarcomas.
During a working lifetime a GP may see many hundreds of benign tumours, but can only expect to see one or two patients with bone or soft tissue sarcomas.
Given its rarity, it can be difficult to recognise the symptoms described by the patients as being those of a suspected sarcoma.
This means that possible sarcoma patients are either sent away or put on unnecessary treatment for another condition.
Watch Andrew’s story of being diagnosed with his sarcoma: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ANmpC0oCkF4
This July is Sarcoma Awareness Month. See the signs or symptoms of sarcoma in the information from the NHS below.
For more information about sarcoma and support, see: https://sarcoma.org.uk/
SOFT TISSUE SARCOMAS
Soft tissue sarcomas are a group of rare cancers affecting the tissues that connect, support and surround other body structures and organs.
Tissues that can be affected by soft tissue sarcomas include fat, muscle, blood vessels, deep skin tissues, tendons and ligaments. Bone sarcomas are covered separately.
Soft tissue sarcomas can develop in almost any part of the body, including the legs, arms and tummy (abdomen).
Symptoms of soft tissue sarcomas
Soft tissue sarcomas often have no obvious symptoms in the early stages.
They can cause symptoms as they get bigger or spread. The symptoms depend on where the cancer develops.
For example:
- swelling under the skin may cause a painless lump that cannot easily be moved around and gets bigger over time
- swelling in the tummy (abdomen) may cause abdominal pain, a persistent feeling of fullness and constipation
- swelling near the lungs may cause a cough or breathlessness
You should see a GP if you have a lump – particularly one that's getting bigger over time.
Although it's much more likely you have a non-cancerous condition, such as a cyst (fluid under the skin) or lipoma (fatty lump), it's important to have your symptoms checked.
Types of soft tissue sarcoma
There are many different types of soft tissue sarcoma, depending on where in the body it develops.
Examples include:
- leiomyosarcoma – develops in muscle tissue
- liposarcoma – develops in fat tissue
- angiosarcoma – develops in the cells of the blood or lymph glands
- gastrointestinal stromal tumours (GISTs) – develop in the connective tissues that support the organs of the digestive system
BONE SARCOMAS
Primary bone sarcoma (or bone cancer) is a rare type of cancer that begins in the bones. Around 550 new cases are diagnosed each year in the UK.
This is a separate condition from secondary bone cancer, which is cancer that spreads to the bones after developing in another part of the body.
Signs and symptoms of bone sarcoma
Bone cancer can affect any bone, but most cases develop in the long bones of the legs or upper arms.
The main symptoms include:
- persistent bone pain that gets worse over time and continues into the night
- swelling and redness (inflammation) over a bone, which can make movement difficult if the affected bone is near a joint
- a noticeable lump over a bone
- a weak bone that breaks (fractures) more easily than normal
- problems moving around – for example, walking with a limp
If you or your child are experiencing persistent, severe or worsening bone pain, visit your GP.
While it's highly unlikely to be the result of bone cancer, it does require further investigation.
Types of bone sarcoma
- osteosarcoma – the most common type, which mostly affects children and young adults under 20
- Ewing sarcoma – which most commonly affects people aged between 10 and 20
- chondrosarcoma – which tends to affect adults aged over 40
Young people can be affected because the rapid growth spurts that occur during puberty may make bone tumours develop.
The above types of bone cancer affect different types of cell. The treatment and outlook will depend on the type of bone cancer you have.