I AM worried about bothering my GP about a lump that I recently found on my leg as they will be busy with coronavirus, what should I do?

Your lump could be from a number of different causes, so it’s important to get it identified. If it has recently become painful, or bigger, potentially it could be a sarcoma, which is a type of cancer that will need further investigation and speedy treatment to be dealt with successfully.

Your GP surgery is still available to offer you advice and help. You should contact them and let them know you are worried. It could be that your doctor will try and set up a video call, so that he or she can look at the lump. Your GP, if required may then invite you into the surgery so that they can take a closer look. The surgery will have infection control measures in place. Your GP or Nurse will be wearing appropriate personal protective equipment like face mask, aprons or gloves and you may be asked to wear a mask when you visit the surgery.

If your GP suspects a sarcoma, you will be referred to a specialist who will run tests such as an X-ray, Ultrasound scan or MRI. A biopsy, which means taking a sample of the lump, may be taken as well. These tests help to identify how fast or slow a cancer may be growing, and whether or not it has spread elsewhere in your body.

Even though the Covid virus has meant a lot of specialist services have been suspended or delayed, hospital clinicians understand that some services can’t wait, so you should be contacted by the specialist team swiftly once a diagnosis is made. They will talk you through what treatment options are available to you.