Sarcoma & Bone Cancer Awareness Month

A Yellow Ribbon Representing Sarcoma Or Bone Cancer

The month of July is dedicated to raising awareness about Sarcoma & Bone Cancers. Sarcoma Cancers are a type of tumor that grows in bones or soft tissues of the body. The type of Sarcoma is identified and categorized depending on the location of the tumor. 

Bone Sarcomas

  • Osteosarcoma: This kind of cancer attacks and grows within a type of bone cell. Bones that are changing quickly as the child grows, like the shoulder or knee, are common locations for tumor development. 
  • Ewing’s sarcoma: This form of cancer has a wider range of affected areas. While the most common areas are bones and tendons, it can also spread to soft tissues and other parts of the body.
    • Commonly affected bones are
      • Legs and Arms
      • Back and Chest
      • Pelvis
    • Other possible areas
      • Soft Tissues
      • Kidney
      • Lungs
      • Bone Marrow

Bone Sarcoma Cancer Symptoms & Warning Signs

Symptoms of Sarcoma Cancer typically start from the location of the tumor. At first, it may just cause a lump or swelling (which may or may not be painful when pressed) before progressing into symptoms like

  • Limping
  • Decrease in Movement

If the tumor isn’t removed or treated, it can spread to other parts of the body and create symptoms such as

  • Fatigue
  • Fever
  • Numbness
  • Shortness of Breath
  • Weakness
  • Weight loss

Soft tissue Sarcomas

  • Rhabdomyosarcoma: most of these tumors generally develop in muscles but it can spread to other soft tissues. It can also develop anywhere in the body’s soft tissues  but the most common locations includes
    • Head and neck (near the eyes, in the throat, or sinuses)
    • Urinary and reproductive organs ( bladder, prostate gland, or female organs)
    • Arms and legs
    • Chest and abdomen 
  • Non-rhabdomyosarcoma soft tissue sarcomas: Different types of Soft-tissue Sarcoma Cancers that are not categorized as Rhabdomyosarcoma are in this category. Although rare, Soft-tissue Sarcomas can develop and even spread to other organs. Typical soft tissues affected in this group includes
    • Blood Vessels 
    • Bone and Cartilage 
    • Connective Tissue
    • Fat Tissues
    • Nerves

Soft tissue Sarcoma Symptoms

From muscles and tendons to blood vessels and nerves, a person’s body is made up of several types of soft tissues. Soft-tissue Sarcomas can develop in any one of these tissues, anywhere on the body. This means there are several different symptoms that can be displayed depending on the size and location of the infected area such as 

  • Bone pain
  • Lump or swelling in the neck, chest or back
  • Tingling or numbness
  • Restricted movement
  • Headache, earache, sinus congestion
  • Bulging eye or vision problems
  • Bleeding from the nose
  • Jaundice (yellow coloring) in eyes or skin
  • Blood in urine
  • Inability to use the bathroom
  • Vomiting or abdominal pain
  • Weight loss or weakness
  • Persistent cough

How is a Sarcoma Type of Cancer Diagnosed in a Child?

As children can get sick and acquire many bumps or bruises as they play, sometimes catching early signs of cancer can be quite difficult. In most cases, a pediatrician notices a lump during a general checkup. The doctor will complete a physical exam and ask questions about health history and any symptoms. To further confirm if the lump is cancerous or not, a visit to a specialist in child cancers may be needed. There are numerous types of tests that can be used to check for developing cancers in the body. These tests include:

  • Tumor Biopsy
  • Bone Marrow Aspiration or Biopsy
  • Blood and Urine Tests
  • X-ray
  • CT Scan
  • MR
  • Ultrasound (sonography)
  • Bone Scan
  • Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scan This test is often used in combination with a CT scan. This is called a PET/CT scan.
  • Lumbar Puncture

Serving the Need of Our Communities

At Sydni Smiles, we know how important this month and raising awareness about soft tissue and bone cancers truly is. Our daughter Sydni was diagnosed with Rhabdomyosarcoma. So we want to use this month for educating other families and sharing information/resources we found helpful. Please join us this month and help raise awareness of childhood cancers with our shirts! Whether it’s donations, advocating for more childhood cancer research, or supporting a family affected by cancer, everyone’s efforts make a difference. 




Additional Information:

https://www.stanfordchildrens.org/en/topic/category?id=31135

https://www.stanfordchildrens.org/en/topic/category?id=31136

https://www.stanfordchildrens.org/en/topic/category?id=31140