We see many patients who are suspected as having bone or soft tissue tumours.
We believe it is important to see all patients who could have a bone or soft tissue tumour as quickly as possible to investigate their symptoms. Delays in diagnosis are unfortunately common for patients with sarcoma.
Many patients that we see do not have cancer.
Seeing a specialist
Patients who come to us will be seen by the most appropriate member of the team at either the Freeman Hospital or the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle or in an outreach clinic
Ultrasound and biopsies
Some patients may be offered an ultrasound scan on their first clinic visit. This can be a very helpful investigation in determining if the tumour is worrying, and may be the only test needed.
It also means that you should be prepared to wait.
A clinic visit requiring an ultrasound can take several hours, particularly if a biopsy is also needed.
After treatment is completed, patients go into a follow-up programme.
Treatment follow up
After treatment for bone or soft tissue sarcoma, patients are usually invited to come back to hospital for follow-up appointments.
The purpose of follow-up is to make sure patients remain well, to assess and help with the long-term impact of treatment, and to answer questions that patients may have.
Follow-up usually involves checking the original site of the tumour to make sure there is no sign that it has come back. A chest x-ray is often also taken to make sure the tumour has not spread elsewhere.
Most patients are followed up at intervals for up to 10 years after treatment.
Its important that you come back to be seen if you think the tumour might have come back.
The details of your follow-up programme will be discussed with you by your consultant once you get to the end of treatment.
For more information, please speak to your consultant or specialist nurse.
Speak to your GP
If you are concerned that you might have a bone or soft tissue tumour, you should see your GP as soon as possible and ask to be referred to our service.
