08/07/2026
🎗️July is Sarcoma and Bone Cancer Awareness Month.
Sarcomas are a large group of diverse cancers that primarily originate from the cells of bone, fat, muscle, and other connective tissues. They account for approximately 7-8% of all cancers in children under the age of 20, and less than 1% of all adult solid tumours (Zhou et al., 2025).
In Africa, the most common sarcoma is Kaposi's sarcoma–a blood vessel-forming tumour that commonly affects the skin and mouth. According to a study in The Lancet by Fu et al. (2023), Africa accounts for 73% of the incidence and 86.6% of the deaths from Kaposi sarcoma worldwide. Kaposi's sarcoma is driven by immunodeficiency due to HIV infection and co-infection with Kaposi sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV), and Kaposi sarcoma remains one of the most prevalent cancers in people living with HIV due to severe immunosuppression in patients who are antiretroviral treatment (ART) naive (McLigeyo et al., 2022).
Other sarcomas seen in our population include osteosarcoma–a bone tumour often diagnosed in children and adolescents, angiosarcoma–a tumour composed of blood vessels, liposarcoma–a tumour composed of fat cells (adipocytes), gastrointestinal stromal tumour (GIST) and rhabdomyosarcoma–a tumour composed of skeletal muscle cells.
Because sarcomas are rare and varied, accurate diagnosis requires careful pathologic examination, including immunohistochemistry for the precise classification of the sarcoma. A correct diagnosis is the foundation for effective care, appropriate staging, and better patient outcomes.
This month, The Pathology Network celebrates the pathologists, laboratory scientists, oncologists, and healthcare workers across Africa and beyond who work tirelessly behind the scenes to diagnose sarcomas accurately and support patients through their treatment journeys. Your expertise makes all the difference. đź’™
Let's use this month to raise awareness, support ongoing research, and advocate for greater access to specialised diagnostic services, because early and accurate diagnosis saves lives.
References
Fu, L., Tian T, Wang B et al. (2023). Global patterns and trends in Kaposi sarcoma incidence: a population-based study. https://zurl.co/UGpox
The Lancet Global Health, 11, e1566-e1575
McLigeyo, A., Owuor, K., Mwangi, J., & Wekesa, P. (2022). Characteristics and Treatment Response of Patients with HIV Associated Kaposi’s Sarcoma in Central Kenya. HIV/AIDS (Auckland, N.Z.), 14, 207. https://zurl.co/bPaLf
Zhou, J., Xu, S., Long, Y., He, R., Cai, J., Ding, N., & Su, Y. (2025). Global burden of soft tissue sarcomas in 204 countries and territories from 1990 to 2021: Data from the global burden of disease study 2021. BMC Public Health, 25, 1519. https://zurl.co/JyQFd
