Hi, beautiful people,

When people talk about cancer, they often mean the common ones — breast, lung, prostate, colon. But Sarcoma? It’s the cancer many have never even heard of. Yet it can change lives in an instant.

This month, we're shining a light on sarcoma — what it is, who it affects, how to catch it early, and why it matters.

Sarcoma is a type of cancer that starts in the body’s connective tissues. These are the tissues that support and connect other parts of the body. This includes:

• Bones

• Muscles

• Fat

• Cartilage

• Tendons

• Blood vessels

• Deep skin layers

Sarcoma is different from most common cancers like breast, colon, or lung cancer. Those cancers usually start in organs or glands. Sarcoma starts in the structure of the body — the tissues that hold us together.

Many people confuse sarcoma and bone cancer — and it’s understandable. Here’s the key difference:

Sarcoma is a large group of cancers that start in connective tissues, including muscle, fat, nerves, blood vessels, and bone.

Bone cancer (also called bone sarcoma) is a specific type of sarcoma that starts in the bone itself.

Sarcoma is considered a rare cancer:

• It makes up less than 1% of all adult cancers

• In children and teenagers, it is more common — around 15–20% of all childhood cancers

• About 15,000 new sarcoma cases are diagnosed each year in the United States

Because sarcoma is rare, many people (including doctors) may not recognize it at first. This can lead to delays in diagnosis and treatment.

The symptoms of sarcoma depend on where it grows in the body. It often starts without pain, so many people don’t notice it right away.

• A lump or swelling that gets bigger over time

• Pain in the lump or in the surrounding area

• Bone pain, especially at night or while resting

• Limping or difficulty using an arm or leg

• A bone that breaks easily, even with a small injury

In most cases, the exact cause is unknown. However, doctors have identified a few risk factors:

• Genetic conditions (e.g., Li-Fraumeni syndrome, neurofibromatosis)

• Radiation therapy in the past (used to treat another cancer)

• Certain chemicals (rare cases – like exposure to vinyl chloride)

• Chronic swelling (lymphedema) in an arm or leg

Even with these risks, most people with sarcoma don’t have a clear cause. That’s why general awareness and early attention to symptoms are so important.

Diagnosis usually includes the following steps:

1. Physical exam – doctor checks the lump or painful area

2. Imaging tests – such as MRI, CT scan, or ultrasound to see the size and location of the tumor

3. Biopsy – a small sample of the tissue is taken and analyzed in a lab to confirm if it is cancer

Treatment depends on:

• Type of sarcoma

• Tumor size

• Whether it has spread

• Patient’s age and overall health

The most common treatments are:

• Surgery – the main method to remove the tumor completely

• Radiation therapy – used before or after surgery to destroy cancer cells

• Chemotherapy – often used for children and teens with aggressive sarcomas

• Targeted therapy – newer drugs that block cancer cell growth in certain subtypes

Sarcoma treatment should be done at a specialised cancer center when possible.

The outcome depends on many things:

• If the cancer is found early and removed fully, chances of recovery are good

• If the cancer has spread (metastasized), treatment becomes harder

• Low-grade sarcomas (slow-growing) often have better survival rates

• High-grade sarcomas (fast-growing) may return after treatment

Overall, the 5-year survival rate for localized soft tissue sarcoma is about 65%–90%, depending on the type.

• Sarcoma is rare but serious

• Many people don’t know the warning signs

• Early detection makes a big difference

• Patients often need care from a multidisciplinary team (surgeon, oncologist, radiologist, etc.)

If you or someone you know is living with sarcoma or recovering from it, TCW is here to offer:

• Emotional peer support

• Awareness tools

• Small grants for personal healing dreams

• A global community that truly cares

Ready for a little brain boost?

This week’s puzzle is based on our July Cancer Awareness edition — so if you haven’t read it yet, you might want to catch up first. The answers are hidden in plain sight.

Stay informed. Stay aware. Early detection saves lives.

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• National Cancer Institute (NCI) – Sarcoma overview

• American Cancer Society – Soft Tissue and Bone Sarcomas

• World Health Organization (WHO) Cancer Fact Sheets

• NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology: Sarcoma

• Children’s Oncology Group (COG) Sarcoma Protocols

Disclaimer: The information provided here is for awareness purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Please consult with a healthcare professional for medical concerns.