Spearheaded by Stephen Fry, who was diagnosed and treated for prostate cancer a few years ago, the NHS has launched a campaign to encourage people with cancer symptoms to come forward for a potentially lifesaving check-up.

The impact of COVID on the NHS and how we interact with it has been profound and recent research indicated that three in five people are concerned about burdening the NHS, with 49% saying they would currently delay seeking medical advice. This is particularly concerning when it comes to cancer as, in most cases, early detection is key to successful treatment.

In a recent video, Stephen and other cancer sufferers talk the symptoms they’d experienced and what prompted them to visit their GP or cancer specialist. Alongside more common cancers, Sarah talked about her experience after being diagnosed with a GIST, or tumour in her small intestine.

What are the symptoms of GIST you should be looking out for?

Often you may not experience any symptoms in the early stages of the disease. Signs of a GIST may include:

• Abdominal discomfort or pain
• A lump or mass in the abdomen that you can feel
• Vomiting
• Blood in your stools or vomit
• Fatigue due to anaemia
• Feeling full after eating just a small amount
• Loss of appetite or marked weight loss

GIST is a much less well known form of cancer so, as Mr Myles Smith, Consultant Surgical Oncologist at the Royal Marsden comments. “It’s great to see the @NHS and @GISTUK raising awareness of early detection of cancer, and GIST in the UK.”

For more advice on the symptoms of GIST and treatment options, call 020 7808 2785 to arrange a consultation.

Soft tissue sarcomas are a type of uncommon cancer that develops within connective or supportive tissues. These include muscles, tendons, fibrous and fatty tissue, blood vessels and nerves. They are most commonly found in the legs, arms and trunk of the body.

It is important to detect soft tissue sarcomas as quickly as possible, to access good quality care and reduce problems the tumour may cause. There are different types of soft tissue sarcomas and some will be more aggressive than others. For this reason, it is important to seek early detection to identify the type and severity of the condition and to reduce the potential impact of treatment.

Here, we’ll look at why it is important to detect soft tissue sarcomas early and the treatments available.

Why is early detection important?

It is estimated that around 15 people are diagnosed with sarcoma each day within the UK. This means approximately 5,300 people develop them each year. There are over 100 different types of sarcomas, with soft tissue sarcomas being the most common.

Soft tissue sarcomas account for 88% of sarcomas in the UK. There are many different types including:

• Extremity (limb and trunk)
• Gastrointestinal stromal tumours (GISTs)
• Retroperitoneal sarcomas (occur deep in the abdomen and pelvis)
• Gynaecological sarcomas (occur in the female reproductive system)

Whichever type of soft tissue sarcoma you have, early diagnosis is helpful.

Signs and symptoms to watch out for

If you stand any chance of diagnosing sarcomas early, you need to know the signs and symptoms to watch out for. These can vary depending upon the size and location of the tumour.

One of the first symptoms you may notice is a lump or swelling within the soft tissue. The lump may be getting bigger, and it is usually painful although not all patients experience pain.

Ideally, the diagnosis should be provided when the lump is under 5cm in size. So, being aware of any lumps that develop and monitoring them for any change is going to help you to ensure you catch it early. The NHS recommends assessment of any lump that is greater than 5cm, deep, rapidly growing, painful or recurrent.

Diagnosis will typically consist of a physical examination, taking scans and a biopsy. Ultrasounds, MRIs and sometimes CT scans may all be used to diagnose sarcoma.

How are soft tissue sarcomas managed and treated?

Surgery is typically the most common treatment for soft tissue sarcomas, often with radiotherapy to reduce the risk of recurrence. Overall, the outcomes are positive.

Several types of surgery can be carried out to treat these types of cancer, depending on the size and location of the tumour. The surgeon will go through your options and discuss which one would be better suited to you. It is important to understand the risks and complications involved with each type of surgery. The aim of surgery is to potentially cure the cancer, and certainly to control it at that site.

Overall, early detection of soft tissue sarcomas is helpful to ensure effective treatment. Watching out for the signs will help you to seek a diagnosis quickly. There are several treatment options available, with surgery being the most effective.

For more advice, call us on 020 3770 5864 to arrange an appointment at the HCA Lister Hospital Clinics (Chelsea Outpatient Centre and Chiswick Medical Centre) or call 020 7808 2785 to book a consultation with Mr Myles Smith at the Royal Marsden Hospital.

Trying to decide whether to have lump removal surgery? While the majority of lumps are harmless, occasionally they can be a sign of a serious underlying issue.

Knowing when to remove a lump is important when it comes to protecting your health. The only real way to determine whether your lump should be removed is by having it assessed by a professional.

Below, you will discover the characteristics of some of the most common types of lumps and whether they typically need to be removed. You will also learn more about the symptoms that should be investigated further.

What characteristics do harmless lumps have?

Although some lumps can be cancerous, the truth is, most are completely harmless. The question is, how do you know the difference?

When it comes to harmless lumps, they do tend to have a few characteristics in common. They are usually soft to touch and remain mobile when touched. That is, they move around when you touch them, rather than stay in the same position. They are also typically located in the fat layer of the skin.

Common conditions which can lead to the development of harmless lumps include cysts, tendonitis, rheumatoid arthritis, and enlarged lymph nodes. There is usually an explanation for the lump such as a trauma, and they will get better over time.

The characteristics of harmful lumps

With more harmful lumps, they too have a few characteristics you should look out for.

To be assessed, a lump may measure more than 5cm or be growing rapidly. It could also be located deep under the skin, or it may be recurrent. These symptoms can point to a lump that needs to be investigated in case it could represent a soft tissue tumour. In these cases, you may require a further assessment from a specialist soft tissue cancer expert.

While finding a lump can be alarming, most will not turn out to be worrisome. With that being said, even benign lumps can cause potential health issues, so it is best to book a consultation to talk through your lump removal surgery options.

You can book an appointment with Mr Myles Smith at the One-Stop Lump Clinic with or without a GP letter. Use the form on the Clinic website to provide information about the lump and any symptoms you are experiencing. From there we can arrange an Ultrasound or MRI in either the Chelsea Outpatient Centre or the Chiswick Medical Centre.

Like any form of cancer, spotting the signs of sarcoma early is crucial. To help spread awareness, 28-year-old Gareth Emmerson is cycling a whopping 1000 miles across the UK. A Sarcoma sufferer, Gareth is a true inspiration, and has exceeded his fundraising target of £100,000 for Sarcoma UK!

As last month marked Sarcoma Awareness Month, we thought we would share some common questions. For example, what is it? And how is it treated? Therefore, you can find out everything you need to know below.

Sarcoma FAQs: What is sarcoma?

Sarcoma is a term used to describe a broad group of uncommon cancers. It is estimated that there are around 100 different types of sarcomas, separated into three distinct categories. These include primary bone sarcoma, soft tissue sarcoma, and gastro-intestinal stromal tumours.

They can develop within the bone, cartilage, muscles, nerves, fibrous and fatty tissues. They most commonly develop around the legs, trunk, and arms. There are approximately 5300 cases of sarcomas diagnosed each year in the UK. They account for fewer than 1% of adult cancer cases in the country.

The most common type of sarcoma patients develop is soft tissue sarcoma. This includes liposarcoma, undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma, and leiomyosarcoma soft tissue sarcomas.

Sarcoma FAQs: How is it diagnosed?

Getting an early diagnosis is key for successful treatment of sarcoma. The main symptom you may experience is a lump in the arm, leg, or trunk area. While these are the most common areas for them to develop, they can occur in other parts of the body too.

There are several ways to diagnose the condition, starting with a clinical assessment. A scan, such as an X-Ray, Ultrasound, MRI, or CT scan, will help to see whether there is a sarcoma inside the body. A biopsy may need to be carried out on suspected tissue.

If sarcoma is diagnosed, it will be presented as a specific grade and stage. There are three grades, including low, intermediate, and high-grade. The latter is the fastest spreading, more aggressive form of the condition. In addition, it will be categorised into one of four stages. Stage 1 is the easiest to treat as the cancer is localised. Stage 4 cancer is the most severe, highlighting that it has spread throughout the body.

Sarcoma FAQs: What treatment options are available?

The subtype, grade and stage of your sarcoma will determine the type of treatment you require. Whichever type you have, it should be treated at a specialist centre.

The most common type of treatment is a combination of surgery and radiotherapy. The tumour is removed, alongside additional tissue in the surrounding area. This prevents any cancer cells potentially being left behind. But if the tumour is large, radiotherapy can be used to shrink it down prior to surgery. Certainly it reduces the risk of the tumour recurring.

You will learn which treatment method is right for you after receiving a diagnosis. In addition, you may be offered the opportunity to take part in clinical trials.

Above all, if you are worried you may have sarcoma, you should seek a diagnosis as quickly as possible. The earlier it is caught, the easier it will be to treat.

For more advice, call us on 020 3770 5864 to arrange an appointment at the HCA Lister Hospital (Chelsea Outpatient Centre and Chiswick Medical Centre). Or call 020 7808 2785 to book a consultation with Mr Myles Smith at the Royal Marsden Hospital.