About Sarcoma
Sarcoma can affect anyone of any age and is one of the most common cancers in children and young adults. For too long, sarcoma's rarity has hidden the devastating impact it has on families everyday.
Through raising awareness, funding vital research, and providing support services, Sarcoma UK promotes earlier diagnoses, brings us closer to developing new treatments, and strives to improve the quality of life for those affected by sarcoma.
There are two main types of sarcoma:
-
Soft tissue sarcoma
-
Bone sarcoma (also known as primary bone cancer)
Within these two types, there are around 100 subtypes.
The most common symptom of sarcoma is a lump that is growing or changing.
Other symptoms can include:
-
Swelling, tenderness or pain in the bone that can be worse at night
-
Stomach pain
-
Feeling sick
-
Loss of appetite or feeling full after a small amount of food
-
Blood in your poo or vomit
Who gets sarcoma?
Sarcoma can affect anyone of any age. It's the third most common cancer in children, but it's more common in middle-aged or elderly people.
Treating sarcoma
Like other types of cancer, surgery is often the first treatment that people have for sarcoma.
People with sarcoma might also have chemotherapy or radiotherapy, depending on their individual circumstances.
Anyone who has sarcoma or a suspected sarcoma should be seen at a sarcoma specialist centre.
The number of people affected by sarcoma is rising, and the pressure on Sarcoma UK's services is growing.