Sometimes, sarcoma can reappear in the same area after treatment for a previous tumour. This is called a recurrence.

If your cancer does come back, it’s important to be treated as quickly as possible. Your treatment plan will be decided and assessed on an individual basis.

It is important to check for recurrences yourself through self-examination: your doctor or sarcoma clinical nurse specialist can tell you what to look for.

If you are worried or if you have any symptoms, contact your doctor or nurse. They may decide to bring forward the date of your follow up appointment to investigate your concerns.

Metastasis

A recurrence of sarcoma may be accompanied by cancer cells that have spread to other parts of the body. This is called metastasis or secondary cancer.

In some cases, people can be diagnosed with sarcoma because their metastases have been discovered before their primary sarcoma tumour.

These secondary cancers may appear in the lungs, which is why a chest x-ray is taken at follow-up appointments. They may also appear in the liver or brain.