Staff from the Sarcoma Multi-Disciplinary Team at Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust will be hosting a stand outside of The Restaurant, on level 7 of Derriford Hospital to mark National Sarcoma Awareness Week (18th-24th June).

Sarcoma is a rare form of cancer, accounting for approximately 1% of all adult cancers. It can affect any age group but is more common in adults. Around 3,200 new cases of sarcoma are diagnosed in the United Kingdom each year, with an estimate of 100 a year in our region.

Sarcomas usually develop as lumps which may be painless or painful. They are more common in limbs but can occur anywhere in the body. They affect muscles, fat, nerves, blood vessels and other soft tissues and can also develop in the bone. Organs such as the uterus, stomach and bowel can also develop sarcomas. The main form of treatments for sarcoma is surgery but patients may also undergo radiotherapy, chemotherapy as secondary treatments.

Liz Ridgway, Sarcoma Nurse Specialist at Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust, said: “Sarcoma is so uncommon that it would not be unusual for a General Practitioner to only see one during his/her career. It is important, though, that they are recognised at an early stage and treated appropriately by a specialised team.

“The Soft Tissue Sarcoma Multi-Disciplinary Team at Derriford Hospital is a group of specialists serving the people of Plymouth, West Devon and Cornwall. We aim to provide a co-ordinated approach to diagnosis, treatment and care for patients diagnosed with sarcoma.”

There will be a display stand from Tuesday 19th June outside of The Restaurant at Derriford Hospital, providing further information about sarcoma and highlighting sources of local and national resources for help and support. Liz will be present between 12pm and 12.45pm each day to answer questions.

Published on: Friday 15 June 2012