(MENAFN- The Peninsula) The Peninsula
Doha: Early diagnosis and the latest management techniques in bone and soft tissue sarcoma were the focus of Hamad Medical Corporation's (HMC) Sarcoma Awareness Day symposium, held yesterday at Hajar Auditorium.
Sarcoma is a rare form of cancer that can affect any part of the body but most commonly occurs in the bones, muscles, tendons, cartilage, nerves, fat, and blood vessels in the arms or legs. \
There are around one hundred different sub-types of sarcoma.
Dr Mohamed Al Ateeq Al Dosari, Senior Consultant and Head of the Orthopedic Surgery Department at Hamad General Hospital said the symptoms of bone sarcoma can vary depending on the size and location of the tumor.
'Every year thousands of people around the world are diagnosed with sarcoma with approximately 50 new cases being diagnosed in Qatar each year here at HMC. These cases are managed by a dedicated multidisciplinary team of expert doctors and nurses led by the Orthopedic Oncology team at both Hamad General Hospital and the Bone and Joint Center, said Dr Al Dosari, who is also Director of HMC's Bone and Joint Center.
The most common symptoms of bone and soft tissue sarcoma include bone pain, a mass or swelling, and restricted movement in a joint. Dr Ahmed Mounir, Senior Consultant Orthopedic Surgery and Clinical Lead of the Sarcoma Service at Hamad General Hospital noted that the symptoms of bone sarcoma can sometimes be confused with a sports injury or with growing pains in children and young people.
'Unfortunately, in its early stages, patients with sarcoma usually do not have any worrisome symptoms, or they have vague symptoms that mimic other non-cancerous conditions such as lipoma, a cyst, or sports injuries.
'The absence of early and accurate diagnosis will lead to either delay in treatment or the disease being incorrectly treated. This can often result in an unfavorable prognosis so it is extremely important for individuals who have an unexplained, persistent lump, even if it is painless, to seek medical advice. This is especially important in cases where there is a progressive increase in the size of a previously stationary lump, a new occurrence of pain in an existing lump, or unexplained bone and/or joint pain, said Dr Mounir.
Patients who are suspected to have bone sarcoma will now receive an urgent referral, within 48 hours, to the Bone and Joint Center. He said the new urgent referral pathway is the first disease-specific electronic referral system at HMC for suspected cancer cases.
Speaking about the Sarcoma Awareness Day symposium, Dr Ahmed Elramadi, Specialist at the Orthopedic Surgery Department at Hamad General Hospital, said a key aim of the event was to raise awareness of the disease and to improve treatment and care standards.
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