Some sarcomas cause no noticeable symptoms in the early stages

• Bone sarcoma is most often diagnosed in children, teenagers and people over 65.
• Bone sarcoma occurs most often in men and in Black or Hispanic people.

July 2023.- Sarcoma is a malignant cancerous tumour that develops in the bones and/or soft tissues. Sarcomas can form in various parts of the body, from head to toe. Proportionally, 40% occur in the lower limbs (legs, ankles, feet), 30% in the trunk, chest wall, abdomen and pelvis, 15% in the upper limbs (shoulders, arms, wrists, hands) and another 15% in the head and neck.

Jorge Manrique-Succar, director of the Sarcoma programme at Cleveland Clinic Florida, explains the symptoms of this disease and says they vary depending on where the tumour is. For example, “some sarcomas may not cause noticeable symptoms in the early stages, while some tumours may feel like a painless lump under the skin, and others cause no discomfort until they grow large enough to press on an organ.”

To detect whether someone has this disease, the main signs to look out for include: new lumps that may or may not cause discomfort, pain in a limb (arm/leg) or the abdomen/pelvis, difficulty moving the arm or leg (limping or limited range of motion), unexplained weight loss or back pain.

There are currently more than 70 subtypes of sarcoma, and treatment will depend on several factors, including the type of tumour, its size, location and diagnosis.

“Sarcoma affects both children and adults. Soft tissue sarcoma generally occurs more often in adults. Bone sarcoma is most often diagnosed in children, teenagers and people over 65. Bone sarcoma occurs most often in men and in Black or Hispanic people,” says Dr. Manrique.

Differences between carcinomas and sarcomas

Carcinoma and sarcoma are two of the five main types of cancer. Carcinomas are the type most talked about. When people say they have skin cancer, prostate cancer, breast cancer, lung cancer and so on, those are all carcinomas. Sarcomas, on the other hand, are much rarer: they are cancers that form in the bones and soft tissues, such as fat, muscles, nerves and ligaments.

The five-year survival rate for soft tissue sarcoma ranges from 15% for cancer that has metastasised to 81% for cancer that has not spread. The five-year survival rate for osteosarcoma (the most common type of bone cancer) ranges from 26% for cancer that has metastasised to 77% for cancer that has not spread.

These numbers leave out many details that are essential to understanding your prognosis. Your outcome depends on the type of sarcoma, its location, your general health, how you respond to treatment and so on. Your provider is your best resource for understanding your likely outcome based on your unique case.

Treatment will depend on several factors, including the type of sarcoma, its size and location, your general health, and whether the sarcoma is newly diagnosed or recurrent.

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About Cleveland Clinic

Cleveland Clinic is a nonprofit multispecialty academic medical centre that integrates clinical and hospital care with research and education. Located in Cleveland, Ohio, it was founded in 1921 by four renowned physicians with a vision of providing outstanding patient care based on the principles of cooperation, compassion and innovation. Cleveland Clinic has pioneered many medical breakthroughs, including coronary artery bypass surgery and the first face transplant in the United States.  

U.S. News & World Report consistently names Cleveland Clinic as one of the nation’s best hospitals in its annual “America’s Best Hospitals” survey. Among Cleveland Clinic’s 72,500 employees worldwide are more than 5,050 salaried physicians and researchers, and 17,800 registered nurses and advanced practice providers, representing 140 medical specialties and subspecialties.  Cleveland Clinic is a 6,500-bed health system that includes a 173-acre main campus near downtown Cleveland, 21 hospitals, more than 220 outpatient facilities, and locations in northeast Ohio; southeast Florida; Las Vegas, Nevada; Toronto, Canada; Abu Dhabi, UAE; and London, England.

In 2021, there were 10.2 million outpatient visits, 304,000 hospital admissions and observations, and 259,000 surgeries across Cleveland Clinic’s health system. Patients came for treatment from every state and 185 countries.  

Visit us at clevelandclinic.org. Follow us at twitter.com/ClevelandClinic. News and resources available at newsroom.clevelandclinic.org.

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