Jackie Baillie MSP met with Sarcoma UK recently to discuss the work the charity is doing to improve the speed at which sarcoma cancer is diagnosed.

The Dumbarton constituency MSP is delighted to support Sarcoma UK in helping give every single person with sarcoma the best chance of survival.

Early diagnosis is key as only 55 percent of sarcoma patients live beyond five years.

Sarcomas are uncommon cancers that can affect any part of the body, on the inside or outside, including the muscle, bone, tendons, blood vessels and fatty tissues. 15 people are diagnosed with sarcoma every day in the UK, around 5300 people a year.

The later a sarcoma is diagnosed, the less likely someone is to survive. Sarcoma patients face hurdles at almost every stage of their diagnosis, from GP awareness, scanning, delays, and getting referred to a specialist centre. Initial diagnosis is often inaccurate and compared to other more common cancers, fewer treatment options are available.

Signs and symptoms of sarcoma include:

• A lump which is growing, changing, or bigger than a golf ball
• Swelling, tenderness or pain in or around the bone which may come and go and may be worse at night
• Stomach pain, feeling sick, loss of appetite or feeling full after eating only a small amount of food
• Blood in either your faeces or vomit

Jackie Baillie said: “It’s unbelievable that only 25 percent of people know what sarcoma is, and I’m proud to work with Sarcoma UK to help raise awareness of this rare cancer. It is also clear to see that more needs to be done to improve the speed and accuracy at which sarcoma is diagnosed so that patients in Scotland have the best possible chance of survival.

“It’s great to see this charity raising public awareness about sarcoma and its symptoms, while funding vital research into better treatments and supporting patients and loved ones through their Sarcoma UK Support Line.”

Richard Davidson, CEO of Sarcoma UK, said: “Early diagnosis is one of the key drivers for improving survival, and through discussions with supporters and clinicians, academic research and survey results, we have so far found three key challenges to diagnosis: public awareness, healthcare professional awareness, and the diagnostic pathway.

“Sarcoma UK welcomes the support of Jackie Baillie in boosting public awareness of sarcoma and putting early diagnosis on the agenda in Scotland.”

Sarcoma UK is a national charity that funds vital research, offers support for anyone affected by sarcoma cancer and campaigns for better treatments. It is the only cancer charity in the UK focusing on all types of sarcoma.