What patients, family members, and caregivers need to know about sarcoma symptoms and treatments.

July is Sarcoma Awareness Month – four weeks that help spotlight this form of cancer that affects thousands of Americans each year. While this type of cancer is exceedingly rare, understanding sarcoma is important for helping the public recognize the signs and symptoms because, like most cancers, early detection of sarcoma is key to successful treatment.

It’s equally important for the families and caregivers of sarcoma patients to become familiar with the disease so they can provide effective management and support. Read our comprehensive guide to quickly understand sarcoma, its symptoms, and its treatments.

What is sarcoma?

Sarcoma is sometimes referred to as the “forgotten cancer” because it’s so rare –accounting for only about 1% of cancers in adults and 15% among children. Sarcoma can occur in soft tissue, muscle, or bone which means it could appear anywhere in the body. Some soft tissue types include angiosarcoma and leiomyosarcoma. Bone sarcomas include Ewing sarcoma and osteosarcoma.

Sarcoma development isn’t entirely understood by the medical community, though several risk factors have been identified. Exposure to radiation, vinyl chloride (used in creating some plastics), chlorophenols, or phenoxyacetic acid have all been linked to sarcoma. Prolonged swelling in the arms or legs, called lymphedema, is another risk factor. Genetics are also thought to play a role, although only in a minority of cases due to the typically random nature of sarcoma development. 

Symptoms of sarcoma include:

• A lump or mass of tissue, usually painless
• Bone pain, initially at night but occurring more regularly over time
• Bone fractures
• Limited range of limb motion
• Back pain
• Unexplained weight loss

Talk to your doctor if you experience any of these symptoms, as they could indicate several different issues, including sarcoma.

Sarcoma diagnosis

If your doctor suspects that you may have sarcoma, they will review your medical history and perform a thorough physical examination. This may involve steps like magnetic imaging tests, x-rays, or a biopsy. Other diagnostic tests include bone scans and positron emission tomography (PET) scans. A PET scan injects a safe radioactive tracer to look for unusually high glucose concentrations that could indicate sarcoma. As with most cancers, early detection can help ensure successful treatment.

Treatment options for sarcoma

Depending on the type and severity of the sarcoma, many different treatment options are available. In many cases, surgery may be recommended to remove the affected tissue. In other cases, radiation therapy or chemotherapy may be necessary. And in some cases, extreme cold or heat can be used to destroy the sarcoma once it has been located using computer-aided tomography. 

Sometimes, immunotherapy or targeted therapy may also be indicated. The first uses drugs to help reprogram the body’s immune system to better identify and fight the cells that are causing sarcoma. The second is a more localized treatment using small-molecule drugs or monoclonal antibodies to precisely target certain proteins while prioritizing the safety of surrounding, healthy cells.

Sarcoma treatments of all kinds can cause physical side effects, as well as mental and emotional impacts, and all of these need to be managed to promote recovery. 

Managing side effects of sarcoma

Pain management is critical in helping patients deal with the discomfort that can follow surgeries or radiation treatments. This can involve regular physical therapy or exercise to ensure that compromised limbs don’t lose further function, as well as prescription drugs and other pain management therapies. 

Recovery from sarcoma may take a long time, so the patient’s holistic well-being is paramount. Good nutrition from a healthy diet combined with regular hydration can help the body to regain strength, retain mobility, and support the healing process. Dietary and physical therapy/exercise plans should be discussed with a doctor to ensure they don’t put the patient at further risk.

Emotional support and counseling are as vital to sarcoma treatment as any drug or medical procedure. They can be of great help and comfort to a patient’s family and caregivers, as well as the patients themselves.

Where to find emotional and practical support

There are many fine organizations that offer comfort and support to sarcoma sufferers and their loved ones. The American Cancer Society provides helplines and access to support groups. They also may be able to help with transportation to and from cancer treatments.

CancerCare offers extensive support resources ranging from counseling and education to pet care programs and financial aid. The Cancer Support Community helps patients, families, and caregivers navigate cancer with helpful services like exercise and dietary advice, education, and in-person or online assistance.

The Sarcoma Foundation of America offers extensive resources on the disease and accepts donations in their ongoing efforts to treat it. During July, Sarcoma Awareness Month, they encourage everyone to wear the yellow ribbon (or any yellow clothing), speak out on social media, post yard signs, and participate in other supportive activities to increase public awareness.

ModRN Health can help make sarcoma treatments easier

A sarcoma prognosis can be easier to accept when everyone involved has access to care-based education and support resources. Early detection is of immense importance in making sarcoma treatment and recovery as effective as possible, and so is minimizing the disease’s financial burden.

Sarcoma medication expenses can quickly mount up, and the stress of searching for nearby providers with acceptable prices doesn’t help. The good news is that you don’t have to go it alone.

ModRN Health can help you find the best prices on prescription medications available in your area. Just sign up for a free account today to start saving up to 90% on your medications. When you use our service, you can also earn reward points redeemable for vouchers to some of your favorite stores, and gain access to our medication management resources. Let ModRN Health help ease the burden of managing your condition so you can focus on recovery.