Becoming #PartOfIt this Sarcoma Awareness Week

This week (1-7 July) is Sarcoma Awareness Week, and given only one in four people know what sarcoma is, it’s much needed.

Every day, 15 people are diagnosed with sarcoma, adding up to around 5,300 every year. Better awareness is urgently needed, to enable people to spot the signs quicker and ultimately, save lives.

WHAT IS SARCOMA?

Sarcomas are rare cancers that can affect any part of the body, from the muscle, bone and tendons, to blood vessels, fatty tissues and the female reproductive system.

Different types of sarcoma include bone, soft tissue, gastrointestinal (GIST), gynaecological, and retroperitoneal.

SURVIVAL

In the last 20 years, survival rates of sarcoma have improved, but further research and funding is needed to ensure more lives aren’t affected.

More than half of those affected by sarcoma have a life expectancy of five years, a figure that could be improved upon if more people knew the signs and received a diagnosis faster.

AWARENESS

This year, Sarcoma UK is urging more people to get involved, to raise more awareness of sarcoma, so people can spot the signs and symptoms more quickly.

You can spread awareness by changing your social media profile pictures here. You can also write to your MP, or share your own personal story of sarcoma.

The most common symptom of sarcoma is a lump that can’t be moved and gets bigger over time. As a teacher, you can encourage your pupils to check for lumps by incorporating routine checks into P.E. lessons.

Other symptoms can include abdominal pain, constipation, coughing or breathlessness. If you notice any persistent symptoms in pupils, it can be a good idea to raise any concerns with management, who can decide how to raise any issues with pupils or parents.

For more information, visit the Sarcoma UK website here.

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