For patients, receiving a cancer diagnosis can feel intimidating and overwhelming, especially for a rare cancer. July is Sarcoma and Bone Cancer Awareness month, and I know there are many people who have never heard of sarcoma.

Sarcoma is a type of cancer that starts in the body's muscles, bones, tendons, and sometimes in the abdomen or lungs. As a hematologist/oncologist at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) with special interest in treating sarcomas, I believe raising awareness is crucial for alleviating the anxiety that may accompany an unknown diagnosis.

Sarcomas are rare and often aggressive cancers that often present with swelling in areas where the swelling can be attributed to physical activity or strain, especially sports. According to data from the National Cancer Institute, approximately 0.3 percent of men and women in the U.S. will be diagnosed with soft-tissue cancer at some point in their life, and only 0.1 percent........

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