This July cancer charities did their bit to raise awareness of a less well-known type of the disease called sarcoma. As Sarcoma Awareness Month comes to a close, we look at the most common signs and symptoms and why early diagnosis can be so important.

Sarcoma is a rare type of cancer, but it can often develop in young people. One in every seven people diagnosed with sarcoma is a child or teenager. It can affect either bones or soft tissues and is commonly found in the longer bones.

Depending on which bones or soft tissues are affected, with early diagnosis, less invasive treatment can often be carried out and the better prognosis can be. We have seen in cases JMW have acted in where there has been a delay in diagnosis of sarcoma and the impact can be significant.

The exact causes of sarcoma are not known. Some genetic conditions are known to have an increased risk. Li-Fraumeni syndrome and children who have retinoblastoma have an increased risk of developing sarcoma. There is also a small risk of developing bone cancer if you have had radiotherapy or chemotherapy treatment previously.

Symptoms of a bone sarcoma can include pain, swelling and tenderness or a lump. Pain might be constant or come and go and painkillers may not help. An unexplained pain or a limp or loss of muscle tone might occur. Many of these symptoms can be related to other conditions that would be much more common but if there any symptoms that are unexplained and are persistent, you should seek advice from your GP.

Soft tissue sarcomas may present as a lump, which might be painless. As the tumour grows it might become more noticeable or painful. Most lumps won’t be cancer but any signs should get checked out by your GP.

Sarcoma is usually diagnosed with imaging such as an x-ray or an MRI scan. A biopsy is usually needed to confirm the type of sarcoma and the best treatment plan.

Treatment often involves surgery to remove the tumour and any affected bone or soft tissue. Any bone affected may need to be replaced with a metal or prosthetic replacement. Radiotherapy or chemotherapy treatment might also be recommended.

If you have been diagnosed with sarcoma, the treatment path may be daunting. There are lots of organisations that offer information and support.

The Bone Cancer Research Trust funds research into the treatment of sarcoma and also have a wide range of resources to help guide patients through the physical, psychological and social impact of going through treatment. You can listen to other patient’s stories here and read more about the fantastic work that the Bone Cancer Research Trust is doing to improve treatments for osteosarcoma and Ewing sarcoma.