Raising awareness of sarcoma cancer
Date published:
It's Sarcoma Cancer Awareness Month. There are key signs and symptoms of the disease to look out for. Talk to your GP if you think something is wrong.
Bone and connective tissue
Cancers of the bone and connective tissue (sarcomas) are rare, but they can be in any part of the body and there are many different types.
There is often a lot that can be done to tackle cancer when it appears, but early detection and treatment are essential.
It's important to:
- know your own body
- look out for any changes
- speak to your doctor if something isn’t right
Signs and symptoms
A few of the possible signs of a bone sarcoma include:
- increasing, unexplained or persistent bone pain or tenderness, particularly pain at rest (and especially if not in the joint)
- swelling over the affected part
- reduced movement
- if the cancer is near a joint, this can make it more difficult to move the joint and it can affect the movement of the whole limb
- if the affected bone is in the leg, it may cause a limp
- if the tumour is in the spine, it may press on nerves, causing weakness or numbness and tingling in the limbs
- broken bone (bone cancer is sometimes discovered when a bone that has been weakened by cancer breaks spontaneously or after a minor fall or accident)
If you do experience these symptoms it is best to seek advice from your GP.