Physiotherapists are becoming the first point of contact for a number of sarcoma patients, particularly as many people with sarcoma are referred to them for supposed sporting injuries and muscle pain.
We know physiotherapists are likely to come across sarcoma as there are common symptoms which make many sub-types easier to identify. Catching sarcoma at an early stage means the cancer is less likely to have spread, increasing a patient’s chances of survival. Yet our research shows that one in three patients wait at least six months after first consulting a healthcare professional before receiving an accurate diagnosis for their sarcoma.
To help address this, Sarcoma UK has produced an e-learning module for physiotherapists in collaboration with the University of Nottingham. This module is written specifically for physiotherapists who are practicing or training.
In March, this e-learning module will be promoted in Frontline, the magazine of the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP). Frontline has 64,000 recipients each month and reaches 80 per cent of chartered physiotherapists. The module will also be promoted in the March edition of CSP’s weekly digital newsletter, which has more than 54,000 recipients.
