Australian Cancer Trials Information on the latest clinical trials in cancer care, including trials that are recruiting new participants Website Australasian Sarcoma Study Group A national cooperative cancer clinical research group that coordinates large-scale multi-centred sarcoma trials Telephone: 1800 177 657 Cancer Australia Information for health professionals including guidelines, cancer guides, reports, fact sheets, DVDs,…

All patients with suspected sarcoma should be referred to a specialist sarcoma multidisciplinary team before biopsy (Cancer Council Australia Sarcoma Guidelines Working Party 2014, ESMO 2014a, ESMO 2014b). Patients aged under than 16 years should attend a paediatric specialist treatment centre. Patients aged 16–18 years should attend either a paediatric or adult specialist centre with…

The lead clinician should discuss the patient’s use (or intended use) of complementary or alternative therapies not prescribed by the multidisciplinary team to identify any potential toxicity or drug interactions. The lead clinician should seek a comprehensive list of all complementary and alternative medicines being taken and explore the patient’s reason for using these therapies…

The causes of sarcoma are not fully understood, and there is currently no clear prevention strategy.

Examinations/investigations should include: medical history and baseline blood tests physical examination including assessing the physical characteristics of the mass and assessing the regional lymph nodes plain x-ray (if there is bone pain) specialist referral for a soft tissue lump (ultrasound is often of limited use and may be misleading). The decision to perform a biopsy…

All patients with sarcoma should be offered the opportunity to participate in a clinical trial or clinical research if appropriate (Field et al. 2013). Cross-referral between clinical trials centres should be encouraged to facilitate participation. Australasian Sarcoma Study Group is a national cooperative cancer clinical research group. It coordinates large-scale multi-centred sarcoma trials. Australian Cancer…

Risk factors for bone sarcoma may include: family history (slight increased risk) history of retinoblastoma Li-Fraumeni syndrome history of childhood cancer prior abnormalities such as Paget’s disease, avascular necrosis or polyostotic fibrous dysplasia past treatment with chemotherapy or radiation therapy exposure to certain chemicals (for example, vinyl chloride and dioxin) age: adolescent/young adult (less than…

The following signs and symptoms may indicate sarcoma. Symptoms of bone sarcoma include: persistent non-mechanical pain in any bone lasting more than a few weeks referred pain pain that is unremitting and unresponsive to analgesics nocturnal bone pain a mass swelling a limp limited mobility or loss of limb function fractures with minimal trauma. Symptoms…