Research Article
Routes to Diagnosis for Suspected Sarcoma: The Impact of Symptoms and Clinical Findings on the Diagnostic Process
Table 2
Main reason for seeking medical care as stated by the patient.
| | | Benign (%) | Other malignancies (%) | Sarcomas (%) | Total population (%) |
| | Increasing size of the tumor/swelling | 20 (5.3) | 3 (4.4) | 7 (6.9) | 30 (5.5) | | Promptly reacted to the presence of swelling/lump | 25 (6.7) | 7 (10.3) | 9 (8.8) | 41 (7.5) | | Tumor/swelling/pain did not disappear | 24 (6.4) | 3 (4.4) | 6 (5.9) | 33 (6.1) | | Pain | 77 (20.5) | 17 (25.0) | 15 (14.7) | 109 (20.0) | | Bothered to much | 6 (1.6) | 1 (1.5) | 6 (5.9) | 13 (2.4) | | Afraid that it was cancer | 22 (5.9) | 3 (4.4) | 5 (4.9) | 30 (5.5) | | Was worried/unsecure about the symptoms | 18 (4.8) | 2 (2.9) | 6 (5.9) | 26 (4.8) | | Wanted to know what it was | 34 (9.1) | 1 (1.5) | 12 (11.8) | 47 (8.6) | | Could not work/hindered at work | 5 (1.3) | 0 (0.0) | 1 (1.0) | 6 (1.1) | | Restriction of movement | 4 (1.1) | 0 (0.0) | 0 (0.0) | 4 (0.7) | | Hindered in daily activity | 13 (3.5) | 0 (0.0) | 4 (3.9) | 17 (3.1) | | Affected night sleep | 1 (0.3) | 0 (0.0) | 1 (1.0) | 2 (0.4) | | Were at the doctor’s office for something else | 45 (12.0) | 11 (16.2) | 9 (8.8) | 65 (11.9) | | Wanted it removed | 2 (0.5) | 0 (0.0) | 3 (2.9) | 5 (0.9) | | Concerned for the cosmetic appearance | 1 (0.3) | 0 (0.0) | 1 (1.0) | 2 (0.4) | | Weight loss | 1 (0.3) | 0 (0.0) | 0 (0.0) | 1 (0.2) | | Thought it was side effects to medicine | 1 (0.3) | 0 (0.0) | 0 (0.0) | 1 (0.2) | | Thought it was an insect bite | 2 (0.5) | 0 (0.0) | 0 (0.0) | 2 (0.4) | | Urged to seek doctor by others | 35 (9.3) | 6 (8.8) | 10 (9.8) | 51 (9.4) | | Wanted a referral to scanning | 1 (0.3) | 0 (0.0) | 0 (0.0) | 1 (0.2) | | Had many moles and are aware of skin changes | 0 (0.0) | 1 (1.5) | 0 (0.0) | 1 (0.2) | | Read cancer awareness brochure | 1 (0.3) | 0 (0.0) | 0 (0.0) | 1 (0.2) | | Thought it was a hernia | 0 (0.0) | 1 (1.5) | 0 (0.0) | 1 (0.2) | | Thought it was a fractured bone | 0 (0.0) | 1 (1.5) | 0 (0.0) | 1 (0.2) | | Fatigue | 1 (0.3) | 0 (0.0) | 0 (0.0) | 1 (0.2) | | Wanted antibiotics | 1 (0.3) | 0 (0.0) | 0 (0.0) | 1 (0.2) | | Previously had cancer and are aware of any lumps | 1 (0.3) | 2 (2.9) | 2 (2.0) | 5 (0.9) | | Wanted referral to physical therapy | 1 (0.3) | 0 (0.0) | 0 (0.0) | 1 (0.2) | | Incidental finding on imaging | 33 (8.8) | 9 (13.2) | 5 (4.9) | 47 (8.6) |
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