Supporting Sarcoma Awareness Month: Understanding the Signs, Treatments, and When Misdiagnosis Leads to Medical Negligence.
Supporting Sarcoma Awareness Month: Understanding the Signs, Treatments, and When Misdiagnosis Leads to Medical Negligence.
What is Sarcoma?
Sarcoma is a rare and often overlooked type of cancer that arises in the body’s connective tissues, such as bones, muscles, cartilage, blood vessels and fat. There are two main types of sarcoma: soft tissue sarcomas and bone sarcomas (also referred to as osteosarcomas).
How Common is Sarcoma in the UK?
Approximately 5300 people are diagnosed with a sarcoma every year, which is 15 people per day. Bridge McFarland LLP supports Sarcoma Awareness Month this July to help raise awareness of this life-altering, rare condition.
What Are the Symptoms of Sarcoma?
Sarcomas often grow silently, but early symptoms might include a painless lump or swelling, usually in the arms or legs, or unexplained bone pain. As the tumour increases in size, it may then press on nerves or muscles, causing discomfort or mobility issues. These symptoms can be easily mistaken for sports injuries, and so diagnosis can be delayed because of this. However, there are also occasions when a person does not get the care they should when a sarcoma is involved.
Diagnosing Sarcoma – What should happen?
If a sarcoma is suspected, the next steps are crucial for confirming the diagnosis and planning appropriate treatment. The usual course of action would include:
- Referral to a sarcoma specialist within 2 weeks
- They may then arrange for imaging to be undertaken. The type of imaging needed will depend on the type of sarcoma that is suspected. For example, if it is a soft tissue lump, then an ultrasound scan may be performed, but if it is a bone/osteosarcoma, then an X-ray would be needed
- A biopsy may also be necessary and is essential in confirming the diagnosis
- Once a sarcoma has been confirmed, further tests may be needed to determine the tumour’s stage (how far it has spread) and its grade (how aggressive it is).
What Are the Treatment Options for Sarcoma?
What treatment is required depends upon the type, location, stage and grade of the sarcoma. Each patient’s treatment plan is developed by a team of specialists, known as a multidisciplinary team, to ensure the best possible outcome. Treatment options include:
- Surgery – this is often the first line of treatment, and the goal is to remove the tumour and a margin of healthy tissue to reduce the risk of the tumour recurring.
- Radiotherapy – this can be given before surgery to try and shrink the tumour to make it easier for it to be removed, after surgery to eliminate any remaining cancer cells, or as a standalone treatment if surgery is not possible
- Chemotherapy – again, this can be given prior to surgery to try and shrink the tumour to make removal easier, or after surgery to reduce the risk of recurrence.
Sarcoma and Medical Negligence
Sarcomas are rare, and their symptoms can mimic more common conditions; therefore, medical negligence involving sarcoma often centres around delayed diagnosis or misdiagnosis.
Some of the claims we have pursued relate to the following issues:
- Where GPs have failed to refer to a sarcoma specialist
- Scans being misinterpreted
- Surgical error
- Inadequate follow-up/inappropriate treatment
- Surgical errors
Case Example: Misdiagnosis Resulting in Amputation
One case that we pursued for a client involved an incorrect diagnosis. Our client was diagnosed with a tendinitis when they in fact had an osteosarcoma. This incorrect diagnosis occurred as a result of a failure to undertake a thorough examination of our client, an osteosarcoma being ruled out on inappropriate imaging and inadequate action being taken on follow-up despite our client having ongoing problems. The failures in our client’s treatment and the resultant misdiagnosis resulted in a delay in the correct diagnosis being made and by the time it was made, our client required a below knee amputation and went on to develop metastatic spread of the tumour which they would have avoided if the correct diagnosis has been made earlier.
Have You Experienced Negligence Concerning a Sarcoma Diagnosis?
Our specialist medical (clinical) negligence team can provide expert advice and guidance if you or a loved one has experienced an injury as a result of a delayed diagnosis or negligent treatment by a doctor or surgeon.
We can help you raise a complaint about your care and, where possible, investigate a medical negligence claim on your behalf.
Sarcoma Awareness Month 2025
Sarcoma Awareness Month is held every July. The medical negligence team here at Bridge McFarland LLP supports this campaign and wishes to raise awareness of this condition. Get the answers you deserve and telephone our experienced medical negligence team on 0800 987 8800 or submit a free online enquiry, and we will contact you. Alternatively, you can email us at [email protected].
Medical Negligence Specialists – Bridge McFarland LLP
medicalnegligence.co.uk is owned and operated by Bridge McFarland LLP, an established and nationally recognised law firm renowned for specialist expertise and experience in this complex area of law. With our determination and commitment to providing our clients with an exceptional standard of service, we have held the highly regarded Lexcel quality mark since June 2008.
Additional Resources:
Sarcoma UK – The bone & soft tissue cancer charity
How to Make a Claim – FAQs
