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A_Z

Lumps are a common occurrence and are usually harmless and not a cause for concern.1,2 However, in some cases, they can be linked to rare forms of cancer, such as sarcoma.3-7

Icon showing a doctor and a patient talking together

It's important to have your doctor examine any unexplained lumps that change or grow.1-4 While infrequent, these changes could 
possibly be a sign of a rare type of cancer called sarcoma.3-7

Early care may make a difference.4,5,8 Don’t wait, contact your doctor today.

Make the most of your doctor's visit – download your handy symptom discussion guide to prepare some key questions and have a focused conversation about your lump.

Download your symptom discussion guide
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Would you like to learn more about sarcoma?

Sarcoma is a broad term for a rare type of cancer that can develop in soft tissue or bone.3,4

Access general information about sarcoma
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Would you like to learn more about epithelioid sarcoma (ES)?

Would you like 
to learn more about 
epithelioid 
sarcoma (ES)?

Epithelioid sarcoma (ES) is a rare and aggressive type of soft tissue cancer.4-7

Access general information 
about epithelioid sarcoma
References
  1. MedlinePlus. Skin lumps. Available at https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/003279.htm. Accessed February 2025.
  2. Scripps. Skin lumps and bumps: An A-Z guide. Available at https://www.scripps.org/news_items/6669-skin-lumps-and-bumps-an-a-z-guide. Accessed February 2025.
  3. National Cancer Institute. Soft Tissue Sarcoma Treatment (PDQ®)–Patient Version. Available at https://www.cancer.gov/types/soft-tissue-sarcoma/patient/adult-soft-tissue-treatment-pdq. Accessed February 2025.
  4. Shakya S, Banneyake EL, Cholekho S, et al. Soft tissue sarcoma: clinical recognition and approach to the loneliest cancer. Explor Musculoskeletal Dis. 2024;2:56-68.
  5. Needs T, Fillman EP. Epithelioid sarcoma. Updated July 2, 2024. Available at https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK532911/. Accessed February 2025.
  6. Czarnecka AM, Sobczuk P, Kostrzanowski M, et al. Epithelioid sarcoma – from genetics to clinical practice. Cancers. 2020;12:2112.
  7. Czarnecka AM. Epithelioid sarcoma. NOWOTWORY Journal of Oncology 2023;73(3):154-161.
  8. Soomers V, Husson O, Young R, et al. The sarcoma diagnostic interval: a systematic review on length, contributing factors and patient outcomes. ESMO Open. 2020;5(1):e000592.

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Patient symptom discussion guide for epithelioid sarcoma (ES): Some important information to discuss with your doctor

If you or a loved one has a lump or several lumps that change, grow, or don’t go away, you should get these checked by your doctor.1-5 That’s why it’s important to come to your doctor’s appointment prepared with information about the lump(s) and any related symptoms.

This symptom guide is a personal tool to help you think about your symptoms before your appointment and help you have better conversations with your doctor.

  • ​​​​​It encourages you to think carefully about what you’ve been experiencing so that you can share clear and detailed information
  • It is designed to help you ask the right questions so that nothing important is missed when discussing your symptoms

Try to fill it out before going to your appointment. This will help to ensure that your doctor has all the important information they need to understand your situation better.

Remember, this guide is just a starting point – your doctor will use their medical knowledge to answer your questions and help figure out what’s going on. Working together, you can get closer to the correct diagnosis and the best care for you.

Consider this guide as a personal tool to help you gather information about the lump(s) and prepare for the conversation with your doctor. Bringing it to the appointment can help to ensure no important details are missed and may help with diagnosis or referral if needed.

Please be sure to raise any concerns you may have about your health with your doctor. This list is not intended to be diagnostic in nature or exhaustive of all questions you could discuss. It is intended only as a discussion resource.

Remember, only a doctor can make an ES diagnosis, and it’s important to discuss all your symptoms and medical history so they can help determine if you should be evaluated further.

Lump overview

Please describe the lump (or lumps if you have more than one).

1. Can you feel the lump(s) in the muscle (soft tissue) under the skin or somewhere else?1-5
2. Can you feel a single lump or more than one lump?1-5
5. Once you noticed the lump(s), did it stay the same size or get bigger over time?2-4
6. Has the area with the lump(s) had any previous injury or trauma?2,3
7. Is there anything you think may have caused the lump(s)? (For example: injury, previous condition, family history)1-3
8. Have you had a lump before (this could be the same or different)?1-5

If yes:

Was it the same or different?
Did it go away?

Physical characteristics

Please describe the lump (or lumps if you have more than one) based on how it appears and feels.

1. How big is the lump(s)?2-4
2. Is the lump(s) close to the surface of your skin, and therefore moves freely when pressed or pushed, or does it seem to be attached to deeper tissue?2,3,5
3. Has the color of the skin over the lump(s) changed?3
4. Has the skin over the lump(s) developed sores, redness, bleeding, or any discharge? (For example: pus or an oily liquid)2-4,6
5. Is the lump(s) painful?1-5

If yes, please describe the pain:

Severity:
Type:
Frequency:

(i.e., comes and goes)

Does the pain worsen with movement or pressure?

Changes over time

Please describe any changes in the lump (or lumps if you have more than one) or the surrounding area over time.

2. Have you noticed any changes in the shape or color of the lump(s) or the skin over it? (For example: redness, sores, bleeding)2-5
3. Has any pain associated with the lump(s) changed over time?2-5
4. Has the lump(s) ever noticeably reduced in size or completely disappeared and then returned?2-5,7

Tip: If you have any previous photos of the lump(s), bring them to the appointment to show your doctor.

Other symptoms

Please describe any other symptoms you may have experienced in addition to the lump(s).

1. OTHER LUMPS: Are there any other lumps on your body besides the one(s) already mentioned?1-5
2. PAIN: Has there been pain in any part of your body? (For example: arms, legs, abdomen, back)1-5
3. MOVEMENT ISSUES: Are you experiencing any more difficulty than usual in moving any part of your body?8
4. WEIGHT LOSS: Have you unexpectedly lost weight?4
5. FATIGUE: Have you been feeling unusually tired or low in energy?9
6. GENERAL WELLNESS: Do you have a feeling of being unwell without a clear cause?1,9
7. EMOTIONAL WELL-BEING: Are you feeling anxious, stressed, or upset about the lump(s) or your overall health?4,10
8. OTHER SYMPTOMS: Do you have any other symptoms, even if they seem unrelated to the lump(s)? (For example: tingling, weakness, new cough)1-4

Sample discussions to have with your doctor

  • Could the lump(s) be a symptom of a condition that requires medical attention?1
  • What should I expect next?
  • Based on my symptoms, what are the next steps for diagnosis or treatment?
  • Will I need any scans or other types of tests? (For example: biopsy, magnetic resonance imaging [MRI], computed tomography [CT] scans, or a positron emission tomography [PET-CT] scan)1,11
  • Will I need to be referred to a specialist?11
  • What signs or symptoms should I keep a record of between now and the next appointment?

Notes and questions

References
  1. National Cancer Institute. Soft tissue sarcoma treatment (PDQ®)–patient version. Available at https://www.cancer.gov/types/soft-tissue-sarcoma/patient/adult-soft-tissue-treatment-pdq. Accessed February 2025.
  2. Needs T, Fillman EP. Epithelioid sarcoma. Updated July 2, 2024. Available at https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK532911/. Accessed February 2025.
  3. Czarnecka AM, Sobczuk P, Kostrzanowski M, et al. Epithelioid sarcoma – from genetics to clinical practice. Cancers. 2020;12:2112.
  4. Czarnecka AM. Epithelioid sarcoma. NOWOTWORY J Oncol. 2023;73(3):154-161.
  5. Li Y, Cao G, Tao X, et al. Clinicopathologic features of epithelioid sarcoma: Report of seventeen cases and review of literature. Int J Clin Exp Pathol. 2019;12(8):3042-3048.
  6. Kura MM, Aliporewala VM, Jorwekar SP, et al. Epithelioid sarcoma: A rare neoplasm presenting in a sporotrichoid pattern. Indian J Dermatol Venereol Leprol. 2021;87(5):690-692.
  7. Kashyap D, Rastogi S, Garg V, et al. Epithelioid sarcoma and its outcome: a retrospective analysis from a tertiary care center in North India. Future Sci OA. 2023;8(9):FSO822.
  8. Alexander L. Epithelioid sarcoma of upper extremity: Diagnostic dilemma with therapeutic challenges. Cureus. 2021;13(3):e14156.
  9. Barrett L, Elliott E, Voorhaar M, et al. A mixed-methods study to better measure patient-reported pain and fatigue in soft tissue sarcoma. Oncol Ther. 2023;11(1):129-143.
  10. Franzoi IG, Granieri A, Sauta MD, et al. The psychological impact of sarcoma on affected patients. Psychooncology. 2023;32(12):1787-1797.
  11. National Cancer Institute. Soft tissue sarcoma treatment (PDQ®)–health professional version. Available at https://www.cancer.gov/types/soft-tissue-sarcoma/hp/adult-soft-tissue-treatment-pdq. Accessed February 2025.
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Ipsen is a biopharmaceutical company. This resource is for educational purposes only and does not provide medical advice.

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