Soft Tissue Sarcoma

What is a soft tissue sarcoma?

A soft tissue sarcoma is a cancer that grows in the soft tissues of the body, such as in muscle or fat. This kind of cancer can grow in the soft tissue of any part of the body. It is unusual and occurs equally in men and women.

About 40% of sarcomas occur in the legs, 20% in the arms, and 20% in the trunk (the body apart from the head, arms, and legs). Other sarcomas appear in the head or neck.

Sarcomas tend to metastasize (spread) through the bloodstream. When a tumor spreads, it releases cancer cells that travel through the bloodstream and lodge in other parts of the body (usually the lungs), where the cells begin to grow new tumors.

How does it occur?

The cause of sarcomas is not known. However, people who have had other types of cancer in the past seem to have a greater risk of developing a sarcoma. One type of skin sarcoma, called Kaposi's sarcoma, is common in people with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS).

What are the symptoms?

The most common sign of sarcoma is a lump. Depending on the site of the cancer, it may or may not cause pain.

How is it diagnosed?

Your healthcare provider will ask about your medical history and your symptoms and will examine you. You may also have these tests:

• X-rays
• CT scan
• magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
• biopsy (removal of a sample of tissue for lab tests).

How is it treated?

Treatment of sarcoma may include:

• surgery to remove the tumor
• radiation therapy: high doses of radiation directed against the tumor to destroy or shrink it
• chemotherapy: a combination of anticancer drugs given to destroy cancer cells.

If the tumor is large and it is necessary to remove a lot of tissue and skin around the tumor, your healthcare provider may use skin grafts from another part of your body to cover the area.

How long will the effects last?

The chance of cure varies, depending on:

• the size and type of tumor
• where the tumor is located
• how fast it is growing
• whether it has spread to other parts of the body.

How can I take care of myself?

The chance of curing a sarcoma increases if it is found and treated early. Report any abnormal thickening or lump in any part of your body to your healthcare provider as soon as possible.

After treatment your provider will recommend regular checkups for at least 2 years. It is important to follow your provider's recommendations so that any recurrence can be found and treated as early as possible.