Sarcoma: The Basics

Sarcoma is a cancer that can affect your bones or soft tissues (also called connective tissue). Soft tissues are:

• Muscles
• Tendons.
• Fibrous tissues.
• Fat.
• Blood vessels.
• Nerves.
• Synovial tissues.

Sarcoma is caused by cells in these tissues growing out of control and forming a tumor. There are over 40 types of sarcoma. Each kind of sarcoma is named based on the type of cells that have cancer in them. Sarcoma that has spread from the bone or soft tissue to another part of the body is called metastatic cancer.

Risk Factors

Some risk factors for sarcoma are:

• A history of radiation therapy. The risk is higher in the area where radiation was done.
• Some genetic diseases (passed down from your parents). Examples are Li-Fraumeni Syndrome, Von Recklinghausen's Disease, Tuberous sclerosis, Familial adenomatous polyposis, and Gorlin syndrome.
• Exposure to some chemicals.
• Chronic lymphedema (a backup of lymphatic fluid in a part of your body).

Symptoms of Sarcoma

Symptoms depend on where in the body the sarcoma starts.

In the Soft Tissue:

• Mass or lump, with or without swelling, and sometimes pain.
• A sarcoma in the abdomen (belly) can cause belly or back pain.
• Sarcoma in the GI tract can cause diarrhea, constipation, blood in stool, or belly pain.
• Uterine sarcoma can cause vaginal bleeding, swelling, or pain in the pelvic area.

In the Bone:

• Pain, with or without a mass that can be felt.

Diagnosis and Screening of Sarcoma

Sarcoma is very rare, and it is important to find a provider that has experience with this type of cancer. There are no screening tests for sarcoma. If your healthcare provider thinks you have sarcoma, they will do the tests listed below to help diagnose it.

 These tests may be:

• X-Ray.
• CT.
• MRI.
• PET scan.
• Biopsy.

The tests that are done depend on where the sarcoma is thought to be.

Staging Sarcoma

Staging helps guide your treatment. The stage is based on:

• Size of the tumor.
• Histologic grade (how different the cells look compared to normal cells).
• Whether cancer cells are in the lymph nodes or other parts of the body.

Stages range from stage I (one), a more limited disease to stage IV (four), an advanced disease.

Treatment

Treatment depends on the size and location of the tumor, the grade (aggressiveness), and if it has spread. Each case of sarcoma is unique and will be treated differently. Below are general treatments for sarcoma:

• Surgery to remove the tumor, which may include amputation if the sarcoma is in a leg or arm.
• Radiation can be done before, during, or after surgery to kill cancer cells and to keep the cancer from coming back (recurring).
• Chemotherapy may be used before surgery to shrink the tumor and make surgery easier, or after surgery to prevent recurrence.

This article is a basic guide to sarcoma. You can learn more about your type of sarcoma and treatment by using the links below.

Soft Tissue Sarcoma: Staging and Treatment

Osteosarcoma: Staging and Treatment

Resources for More Information: Sarcoma