All patients with imaging suggestive of sarcoma should be referred to a sarcoma specialist or the National Sarcoma MDT based at St Vincent’s University Hospital in Dublin, patient charity Sarcoma Cancer Ireland has stressed.

There is also a satellite MDT at Cork University Hospital.

Sarcoma is a rare cancer that develops in the supporting or connective tissues of the body such as muscle, bone, nerves, cartilage, blood vessels and fat. 

It accounts for 1% of all cancers diagnosed, with 300 diagnoses in Ireland annually. The most common symptom is a lump that is growing in size, but these are often mistaken for harmless cysts or lipomas. If the tumour is not visible, it will present as unexplained, recurring pain and this is often mistaken for muscle strain and sports injuries. 

The national charity Sarcoma Cancer Ireland offers support, education, and advocacy to empower patients and their families in their fight against this rare cancer. See www.sarcoma.ie