Who are the Sarcoma Team?
The LTHTR Sarcoma team cares for patients with soft tissue sarcoma.
Soft tissue sarcomas develop in soft tissues such as fat, muscle, blood vessels, lymphatic vessels, nerves, tendons, and cartilage.
The LTHTR Sarcoma team consists of 3 Plastic Surgeons, Consultant MSK radiologists, a Lead Sarcoma clinical nurse specialist, clinical nurse specialist, cancer support worker and support secretary
Contact Us:
Joanna Barriere - Support Secretary: 07925348591
- What to expect at your appointment?
Understanding why you have been referred to hospital
Your GP has asked for you to have an urgent appointment or test because you have displayed symptoms which may be caused by cancer
Whilst it is unlikely that you have cancer it is very important that you are seen by a specialist as soon as possible.
The suspected cancer faster diagnosis system has been introduced across the country so that patients with symptoms that could be caused by cancer are seen by a specialist quickly.
Most patients referred under this system turned out not to be diagnosed with cancer, but early diagnosis can increase the success rate of many cancer treatments.
What happens once you have been referred
Your GP will refer you quickly and easily to the Soft Tissue Sarcoma Rapid Diagnostic Pathway Team by electronic referral following results from your recent Ultra-Sound Scan results (USS).
Once the booking team have received your referral, this will be forwarded to the soft tissue clinical nurse specialist team for triage. The clinical team will then look through your referral and determinate that it is appropriate for the service.
If your referral is rejected, this is because it has been felt more appropriate that your care is managed by another team/speciality.
For appropriate referrals, the clinical team will then aim to contact you by telephone. This call is an opportunity for you to discuss anything prior to a face-to-face appointment. You will also be provided with the contact details for the service.
You should then receive an additional call from the booking team to confirm an appointment.
If you have not had a telephone contact from the hospital within 7 working days (Monday to Friday) of your initial diagnostic USS, ring the outpatient booking centre on 01772 523772.
If the hospital has not received your referral for any reason, you will be advised to contact your GP immediately. It is essential to ensure that your GP has your correct day time telephone and mobile phone numbers, as well as your correct postal address.
If you require an interpreter at your appointment, please inform the Central Lancashire Booking Team using the telephone number above.
What to expect at your first appointment
You will be seen in clinic by a Consultant Plastic Surgeon and/or Lead Clinical Nurse Specialist to discuss your ultrasound results and symptoms. The team is very experienced and welcome any questions that you may have
If further investigations are required once you have attended for a face-to-face consultation, this will be discussed with you and arranged accordingly. These might involve additional scans such as MRI or CT and, in some cases, a core or excision biopsy.
Sarcoma Patient Information Leaflets
- Sarcoma Clinical Nurse Specialist Service
Additional support for patients and carers
Additional support for patients and carers is offered from various organisations:
Cancer Help Preston: an independent charity dedicated to providing non-medical support for patients and carers.
https://www.macmillan.org.uk/cancer-information-and-support/soft-tissue-sarcoma/types
- Diagnostic Tests
Diagnostic Tests
Following your first consultation you may require further specialist investigations to assist in your diagnosis, these may include:
Ultrasound scan of the neck
Ultrasound scans use high frequency sound waves to create a picture of a part of the body. An ultrasound scan shows blood flow and changes in your soft tissue. The ultrasound scanner has a microphone that gives off sound waves. The sound waves bounce off the organs inside your body, and the microphone picks them up. The microphone links to a computer that turns the sound waves into a picture on the screen. The scan is painless and only takes a few minutes.
MRIAn MRI scan uses strong magnetic waves to produce a detailed picture of areas of your body. They are carried out by specialist clinicians called radiographers.
The scanner is a powerful magnet, and you will be asked to complete a checklist about any metalwork in your body to ensure it is safe for you. You will be asked to remove all jewellery before the scan. Some people are given a special injection into the vein before the scan to help improve the quality of the images.
The scan takes approximetly 30 minutes and is painless. You will be assisted to get comfortable on the flat bed and given earplugs/headphones so you can communicate with the person operating the scanner. Some people find they feel a bit claustrophobic, but the clinicians are there to help you relax throughout the scan.
Patient Leaflet – MRI Scan
CT ScanA CT scan uses x-rays and a computer to create detailed images of the inside of your body. They are carried out by specialist clinicians called radiographers. The scan takes 10-30 minutes and is painless. You will be asked not to eat or drink for at least four hours before the scan.
Before having your scan you may be given a special dye called a contrast to help improve the quality of the images. The contrast is injected into the vein. The scan will take approx. 30 minutes and you will be asked to lie on your back, on a flat bed whilst the bed passes through the CT scanner. It uses a small amount of radiation, which is very unlikely to harm you and will not harm anyone you come into contact with.
Patient Leaflet – CT scan
Core BiopsyFor biopsies, after local anaesthetic has been given, either a small sample of tissue will be taken from the area under investigation (biopsy) or a hollow needle is inserted through the skin and into the area being examined (core biopsy)
For core biopsies, ultrasound, CT, or MRI scanning will often be used to help guide the needle to exactly the right place. When the needle is in position, it will cut out a small sample of tissue. For biopsies, local anaesthetic is usually used to numb the area, so you will not experience any pain or discomfort.
Cells from either type of biopsies are then later examined under a microscope which may help to diagnose a cancer.
Patient Leaflet – Biopsy??
Waiting for Results
The Sarcoma team will review any scan results and arrange for any biopsy results to be discussed in the MDT (Multidisciplinary Team) meeting. If appropriate and with your consent, the Specialist nursing team will aim to contact you by telephone to update you with the outcome of this. You may be invited back to clinic for a face to face appointment.
- Diagnosis and Treatment
Receiving a diagnosis
You are strongly encouraged to bring someone with you to support you when attending for your biopsy results / diagnosis. The Clinical Nurse Specialists are also available to support you from your diagnosis onwards. You will be given their contact details and written information, including details of a Holistic Needs Assessment (HNA) which will help to clarify the next steps in your care.
Treatment Options
Each patient’s unique circumstances are considered when discussing and agreeing treatment, and therefore two patients with the same cancer at the same stage may receive different treatments based on that individual assessment.
Your Cancer Treatment Plan
https://vimeo.com/user41324295/review/689755984/434597fe0d
Treatment options for sarcoma include:
Surgery
Surgery is the most common treatment for soft tissue sarcoma. It may be the only treatment needed for small, low-grade tumours, especially in the trunk, arms, or legs. Surgery may also be used in combination with radiotherapy and chemotherapy.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy is a cancer treatment that uses drugs to stop the growth of cancer cells, either by killing the cells or by stopping them from dividing. When chemotherapy is taken by mouth or injected into a vein or muscle, the drugs enter the bloodstream and can reach cancer cells throughout the body (systemic chemotherapy).
If you need chemotherapy as part of your treatment, you will be referred to the specialist sarcoma oncology team at the Clatterbridge Cancer centre.
Radiotherapy
Radiation is a treatment that uses high-energy, x-rays, or other types of radiation to kill cancer cells or keep them from growing. There are two types of radiation therapy:
- External radiation therapy, which uses a machine outside the body to send radiation toward the area of the body with cancer.
- Internal radiation therapy uses a radioactive substance sealed in needles, seeds, wires, or catheters that are placed directly into or near the cancer.
If you need radiotherapy as part of your treatment, you will be referred to the specialist sarcoma oncology team at the Clatterbridge Cancer centre
Targeted therapy
Targeted therapy is a type of treatment that uses drugs or other substances to identify and attack specific cancer cells.
Targeted therapy may cause less harm to normal cells than chemotherapy or radiation therapy do.
Targeted therapy is not routinely used for soft tissue sarcoma.
Immunotherapy
Immunotherapy is a treatment that uses the patient's immune system to fight cancer. Substances made by the body or made in a laboratory are used to boost, direct, or restore the body's natural defences against cancer. This cancer treatment is a type of biologic therapy.
Targeted therapy is not routinely used for soft tissue sarcoma
Your Cancer Nurse Specialists (MAKE THIS INTO A LINK)
- Meet the Team
Get to know your multidisciplinary cancer care team
If you have been told you have sarcoma or are under investigations for sarcoma, your care and treatment will be overseen by a multidisciplinary team of specialist healthcare professionals also known as an MDT.
Cancer care can be complicated and there can be several health care professionals involved in your diagnosis, treatment and ongoing care. As an MDT they work together and meet regularly reducing the time needed to reach a diagnosis and plan the treatment they feel is best for you.
Sarcoma requires a large multidisciplinary team of specialists in their own field of practice that work closely together to care for you and your family throughout your cancer journey.
Your Multidisciplinary Cancer Care Team
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Consultant Surgeons
Consultant Plastic Surgeons
Most Soft tissue sarcomas of the limb and trunk are treated by consultant plastic surgeons. They have the expertise to both remove the sarcoma and reconstruct the surgical site if required. Sometimes, other specialist surgeons such as vascular and orthopaedic surgeons may also be required to help assist. This is to ensure the best outcome from your surgery.
- Mr Richard Wain
- Mr Stuart McKirdy
- Mr George Lye
Cancer Nurse Specialists (CNS)Sarcoma Cancer Nurse Specialists
These experienced professionals support you throughout your care. You will meet your Sarcoma CNS (clinical nurse specialist team) formally during your investigation period and at point of diagnosis. They work very closely with the surgical and oncology teams to ensure all patients are supported throughout their journey and have the appropriate management and treatment plan.
They can provide psychological support at the time around your diagnosis, specialist symptom management, advice about your Sarcoma diagnosis and follow-up after treatment. They can also sign-post onto other support teams to help with things such as benefits, financial advice and patient led support groups. They also link closely with the partner charity, Sarcoma UK who are an additional resource for patients and / or carers during and after their Sarcoma diagnosis.
- Sister Nina Deacon - Lead Sarcoma Clinical Nurse Specialist
- Lynsey Turner - Soft Tissue Sarcoma CNS (clinical nurse specialist)
- Soft Tissue Support Cancer Support Worker
Consultant Radiologists
Our expert radiology team work closely with the rest of the team to diagnose sarcoma using medical imaging. They are crucial in the diagnosis process of our patients.
- Dr Simon Beardmore
- Dr Ali Syed
