A RETAIL worker from Basildon is raising awareness for a rare type of bone cancer after being diagnosed with the illness last year.

Danielle King, 33, was diagnosed with chondrosarcoma, a cancer of the bone and cartilage, last July.

Chondrosarcoma is a form of sarcoma, an uncommon cancer which can affect any part of the body including the muscle, bone, tendons, blood vessels and fatty tissues.

Danielle experienced severe swelling of her thigh and other symptoms such as hip pain and night fevers.

She visited her GP at Aryan Medical Centre, in Felmores, and was advised to go to hospital as he feared she may have sarcoma.

After an initial scan at Basildon hospital on June 25 last year, a tumour was found in her thigh and she spent five days there before being transferred to the Royal National Orthopedic Hospital in Stanmore, a leader in the field of orthopaedics.

Danielle said: “I was really lucky that my GP had seen a sarcoma before.

“Without his knowledge I’m not sure I would still be here as it normally takes patients numerous visits before they get referred.”

Danielle admits that prior to being diagnosed she didn’t know anything about the illness other than it being featured in the popular film The Fault in Our Stars where the character Augustus Waters, played by Ansel Elgort, suffers from osteosarcoma, a form of the disease.

She said: “There is nowhere near enough awareness, although more is being done now to raise awareness.”

An international awareness day has recently been held, aimed at informing more people about the signs and symptoms.

Danielle said that this was vital if more people were to be diagnosed and treated quickly, which can improve the chances of survival.

Previously, it was though that about 3,800 people were diagnosed with a sarcoma every year, but a new study carried out by Sarcoma UK has revealed that the figure is actually more than 5,300.

Sarah McDonald, acting chief executive of Sarcoma UK, said: “It’s time to take sarcoma seriously.

“For the first time in years, we have a fuller, accurate picture of how sarcoma is affecting the UK population.”

Danielle has worked with and received regular support from the Bone Cancer Research Trust which places a focus on raising awareness.

The trust is also calling for more awareness around the symptoms for both health professionals and the public.

Deborah Flyde, communications manager for the charity, said: “The trust works closely with GPs and other medical professionals to try and raise awareness and understanding amongst them.”

Liam Marshall, research information manager at the trust, said: “Medics only receive two paragraphs of information on the disease so their understanding is very limited.”

To find out more visit www.bcrt.org.uk/get-involved/events-and-challenges/

For more information on sarcomas and for support if you have been diagnosed, visit sarcoma.org.uk.