Sarcoma, the rare cancer that can be detected in time to save limbs
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Latin American physician Jorge Manrique, director of the sarcoma programme at Cleveland Clinic Florida, calls for people to recognise the warning signs and act quickly to change the outlook for this aggressive disease.
Weston, Florida, July 2025 – Sarcoma is a rare and highly aggressive type of cancer that originates in the body’s supporting tissues, such as muscles, tendons, bones or cartilage. Although it accounts for only about 1% of cancer cases, its clinical impact is disproportionate: it often affects adolescents and young adults, progresses rapidly and is frequently detected late. In July, Sarcoma Awareness Month, Cleveland Clinic Florida is issuing an urgent call to raise the profile of this disease and promote early diagnosis, with the support and leadership of Dr. Jorge Manrique, head of the institution’s sarcoma programme and an international reference in orthopaedic oncology.
Sarcoma can be curable if detected in time, avoiding severe consequences such as limb loss or metastasis. Dr. Manrique explains that sarcoma can go unnoticed: it often appears as a fast-growing lump in the limbs, abdomen or trunk that is not always painful. Its appearance, especially when accompanied by loss of function or visible changes, should be considered a warning sign. For him, the key is for primary care doctors and orthopaedic surgeons to consider sarcoma as a possible diagnosis, order the right tests, such as a contrast MRI, and refer patients to a specialist immediately.
“The most important thing is to know that sarcoma exists. If you don’t think of it, you don’t diagnose it. And if it isn’t diagnosed in time, key opportunities to save mobility, limbs and lives are lost. A properly ordered MRI and biopsy can make all the difference,” he says.
The specialist points out that, although progress has been made in treatments, reconstructive surgery and robotic technology, what has truly transformed the management of this disease has been the creation of multidisciplinary centres. At Cleveland Clinic Florida, he leads a programme that brings together medical oncologists, orthopaedic surgeons, radiologists, pathologists, anaesthesiologists and surgeons to make decisions in an integrated way, allowing more precise, faster and more humane care.
Access is one of the main challenges in Latin America
During this awareness month, Cleveland Clinic Florida is joining the global call to recognise sarcoma as a public health priority. Detecting it in time not only saves lives: it helps preserve essential functions and radically improves the quality of life of those who face it.
About Dr. Jorge Manrique
A Colombian physician who graduated from the Pontificia Universidad Javeriana. He is an orthopaedic surgeon with training in joint replacement at the Rothman Institute (Philadelphia) and in orthopaedic oncology at the University of Washington (Seattle). He is head of the sarcoma programme at Cleveland Clinic Florida, the author of more than 30 scientific publications, and an active member of associations such as the AAOS, AAHKS and the Musculoskeletal Tumor Society.
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. Cleveland Clinic is consistently recognised in the U.S. and throughout the world for its expertise and care. Among Cleveland Clinic’s 77,000 employees worldwide are more than 5,658 salaried physicians and researchers, and 19,000 registered nurses and advanced practice providers, representing 140 medical specialties and subspecialties. Cleveland Clinic is a 6,699-bed health system that includes a 173-acre main campus near downtown Cleveland, 23 hospitals, more than 275 outpatient facilities, including locations in northeast Ohio; southeast Florida; Las Vegas, Nevada; Toronto, Canada; Abu Dhabi, UAE; and London, England. In 2022, there were 12.8 million outpatient encounters, 303,000 hospital admissions and observations, and 270,000 surgeries and procedures throughout Cleveland Clinic’s health system. Patients came for treatment from every state and 185 countries.