Table 3.
Patient reported initial symptoms.
| Initial symptom | Sarcomas (n = 102) n (%) |
Other malignancies (n = 68) n (%) |
Benign (n = 375) n (%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Noticed lump | 67 (65.7) | 27 (39.7) | 194 (51.7) |
| Noticed indentation of the skin | 1 (1.0) | 0 (0.0) | 1 (0.3) |
| Mobile lump | 0 (0.0) | 2 (2.9) | 2 (0.5) |
| Noticed swelling | 7 (6.9) | 7 (10.3) | 34 (9.1) |
| Soft lump | 1 (1.0) | 1 (1.5) | 2 (0.5) |
| Lump with discharge | 0 (0.0) | 0 (0.0) | 1 (0.3) |
| Hard lump | 4 (3.9) | 0 (0.0) | 8 (2.1) |
| Previously removed lump recurred | 6 (5.9) | 0 (0.0) | 3 (0.8) |
| Noticed skin change/wound | 4 (3.9) | 3 (4.4) | 3 (0.8) |
| Itching | 1 (1.0) | 0 (0.0) | 4 (1.1) |
| Redness | 1 (1.0) | 0 (0.0) | 5 (1.3) |
| Pain | 27 (26.5) | 24 (35.3) | 135 (36.0) |
| Bother/pain related to pressure on lump | 6 (5.9) | 0 (0.0) | 13 (3.5) |
| Night pain | 1 (1.0) | 0 (0.0) | 5 (1.3) |
| Pain or stiffness in the morning | 0 (0.0) | 0 (0.0) | 1 (0.3) |
| Pain related to movement | 5 (4.9) | 4 (5.9) | 23 (6.1) |
| Tenderness | 6 (5.9) | 4 (5.9) | 37 (9.9) |
| Radiating pain | 4 (3.9) | 1 (1.5) | 12 (3.2) |
| Sensation of tightness | 2 (2.0) | 2 (2.9) | 3 (0.8) |
| Reduced strength | 2 (2.0) | 0 (0.0) | 1 (0.3) |
| Sensibility disturbances | 3 (2.9) | 1 (1.5) | 8 (2.1) |
| Sensation of heaviness | 0 (0.0) | 0 (0.0) | 1 (0.3) |
| Reduced ability to practice sports | 1 (1.0) | 1 (1.5) | 8 (2.1) |
| Problems with walking | 4 (3.9) | 1 (1.5) | 11 (2.9) |
| Reduction of movement ability | 0 (0.0) | 1 (1.5) | 11 (2.9) |
| Started after a trauma | 6 (5.9) | 8 (11.8) | 34 (9.1) |
| Started after exercise | 1 (1.0) | 0 (0.0) | 5 (1.3) |
| Clicking sound from joint | 0 (0.0) | 0 (0.0) | 2 (0.5) |
| Slipping sensation in joint | 0 (0.0) | 0 (0.0) | 2 (0.5) |
| Joint locking | 0 (0.0) | 0 (0.0) | 5 (1.3) |
| Sensation of snap in muscle | 0 (0.0) | 2 (2.9) | 1 (0.3) |
| Fever | 0 (0.0) | 0 (0.0) | 1 (0.3) |
| Hot flushes | 0 (0.0) | 0 (0.0) | 2 (0.5) |
| Sleep disturbances | 0 (0.0) | 0 (0.0) | 3 (0.8) |
| Weight loss | 0 (0.0) | 2 (2.9) | 3 (0.8) |
| Lump discovered by others | 5 (4.9) | 1 (1.5) | 19 (5.1) |
| Noticed blood in underwear | 1 (1.0) | 0 (0.0) | 0 (0.0) |
| Bluish skin | 1 (1.0) | 0 (0.0) | 2 (0.5) |
| Fatigue | 0 (0.0) | 2 (2.9) | 8 (2.1) |
| Occurred in relation to pregnancy | 0 (0.0) | 0 (0.0) | 3 (0.8) |
| Dizziness | 0 (0.0) | 1 (1.5) | 2 (0.5) |
| Occurred after mononucleosis | 0 (0.0) | 0 (0.0) | 1 (0.3) |
| Hematuria | 2 (2.0) | 1 (1.5) | 0 (0.0) |
| Flank pain | 2 (2.0) | 0 (0.0) | 0 (0.0) |
| Fracture | 1 (1.0) | 1 (1.5) | 0 (0.0) |
| Occurred after insect bite | 1 (1.0) | 0 (0.0) | 1 (0.3) |
| Yellow skin | 0 (0.0) | 1 (1.5) | 0 (0.0) |
| Shortness of breath | 0 (0.0) | 1 (1.5) | 0 (0.0) |
| Constipation | 0 (0.0) | 0 (0.0) | 1 (0.3) |
| Night sweat | 0 (0.0) | 1 (1.5) | 0 (0.0) |
| Intermittent pain | 0 (0.0) | 0 (0.0) | 9 (2.4) |
| Headache | 0 (0.0) | 0 (0.0) | 1 (0.3) |
| Warm skin | 0 (0.0) | 0 (0.0) | 1 (0.3) |
Patients may have more than one initial presenting symptom.