In the body's connective tissues, sarcoma cancer is a rare but severe kind of malignancy. Although it only makes up 1% of all cancers, it may be more prevalent in kids and young adults. "It is frequently diagnosed late, occasionally with severe repercussions, due to ambiguous or minor symptoms," Dr. Vivek Verma, associate director, surgical oncology (musculoskeletal, paediatrics), Max Super Speciality Hospital, Vaishali, told HT Lifestyle in an interview.

A sarcoma is more than simply a tumor.

"People frequently assume obvious indicators of cancer, such as weight loss, fever, loss of appetite, etc.," which is what they think of. On the other hand, the symptoms of sarcoma can be deceptive, appearing as sports injuries, growing pains, or harmless lumps. The oncologist noted that although the most frequent symptom is a painless mass in the arm, leg, or abdomen, it is important to remember that sarcoma does not always manifest as visible swelling.

Dr. Vivek Verma went on to describe some of the lesser-known symptoms of sarcoma that people should be aware of:

1. Unexplained discomfort or pain

An indication of a more serious underlying problem may be persistent pain in a bone or soft tissue, especially if it gets worse at night or doesn't respond to rest or over-the-counter medications. This pain, unlike muscular injuries, frequently persists or worsens over time.

2. Persistent edema

A lump should not be disregarded, even if it is tiny or painless. Any mass that is larger than 3 cm, expanding, or seems to be located at a depth requires additional investigation. Don't wait till it hurts.

3. Stiffness or limited movement

A sarcoma close to a muscle or joint might restrict movement or induce stiffness. Get it checked out if any area of your body starts to feel increasingly tight or hard to move without hurting yourself.

4. Signs of nervous system issues

Some sarcomas push on surrounding nerves, which can cause numbness, tingling, or weakness in the extremities. These are frequently mistaken for nerve compression problems such sciatica or a herniated disc.

5. Fractures caused by disease

Systemic symptoms of sarcoma in severe cases include weight loss, anemia, or extreme exhaustion, all of which may point to an underlying condition.

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