sarcoma

Sarcoma is a type of cancer which arises from cells in the connective tissues.  This could be in the bone, muscle, cartilage, fat, vascular or other structural tissues. There are many subtypes of bone and soft tissue sarcomas, each requiring treatment with specialist sarcoma physicians and surgeons.  These rare cancers often present in the soft tissues as painless lumps.  If you notice a lump has developed anywhere on your body, be prudent and visit your primary care physician for advice.  As with any type of cancer, early detection is key to optimal outcomes.

Surgery to remove the tumour is the most common treatment for sarcoma. Chemotherapy and radiotherapy may also be recommended before (neoadjuvant) and after (adjuvant) surgery to help minimise the risk of spread and improve overall prognosis.  When sarcomas are very large, the surgeon must remove a lot of tissue surrounding the tumour, which may impact signficantly on mobility into survivorship.  It is extremely important that if your GP suspects sarcoma, that you are promptly referred to a sarcoma specialist.  An ultrasound and MRI are two key imaging modalities to help diagnose sarcoma.