A rare cancer type that begins in the soft tissues of the body is called soft tissue sarcoma. These tissues help to connect, support, and surround different body structures. These include muscles, fat, blood vessels, tendons, joint linings, and nerves. While this cancer form can occur in any body part, it mostly happens in the belly, legs, and arms.
There are more than 50 types of soft tissue sarcoma and some of them are more likely to appear in children. Other soft tissue sarcoma types negatively affect adults only. However, soft tissue sarcoma is difficult to diagnose usually because cell growths are similar to other cancer types.
The most common treatment option for people with soft tissue sarcoma is surgery. In any case, physicians may also recommend other treatment options (such as radiation therapy and chemotherapy) to destroy cancer cells that may remain after surgery. The treatment doctors prescribe depends on the location, size, and type of the soft tissue sarcoma. It also depends on the severity of the condition, your age, and other factors.
Soft Tissue Sarcoma Types
Examples include:
- Liposarcoma
- Malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors
- Myxofibrosarcoma
- Leiomyosarcoma
- Solitary fibrous tumor
- Gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST)
- Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans
- Angiosarcoma
- Kaposi sarcoma
- Epithelioid sarcoma
- Rhabdomyosarcoma
- Synovial sarcoma
- Undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma
Only doctors can determine which type of soft tissue sarcoma you experience.
Symptoms
When this cancer appears, it does not provoke any symptoms usually. When the cancer grows it may provoke the following symptoms. For example:
- A significant lump or swelling
- Pain usually occurs when growths put pressure on nerves or muscles
If you experience any of the previous symptoms, do not hesitate to visit a doctor.
Causes
Experts do not fully understand the exact cause of this cancer type. However, soft tissue sarcoma starts when DNA changes occur in the connective tissue cells. These mutations (changes) make connective tissue cells turn into cancer cells and begin to multiply fast forming tumors (growths). In such cases, healthy cells begin to die while cancerous ones keep growing because they do not have instructions to stop.
There are some soft tissue sarcoma types that stay in one body part only and cancerous cells can make a big tumor. However, other types of this cancer can break and spread throughout the body (metastasize).
The type of soft tissue sarcoma will happen it is determined by the DNA changes. For instance, angiosarcoma usually starts when DNA changes occur in the lining of the blood vessel cells but when DNA changes begin in the fat cells liposarcoma happens.
Risk Factors
The following factors can elevate your risk of developing soft tissue sarcoma. Examples include:
- Chemical exposure – If you are exposed to certain chemicals, your risk of developing this cancer type increases. These include arsenic, dioxin, and herbicides.
- Radiation exposure – People who experience radiation therapy have an increased risk of developing soft tissue sarcoma.
- Inherited syndromes – Sometimes, this cancer form runs in families. Genetic syndromes that can elevate the risk of this cancer type include hereditary retinoblastoma, Li-Fraumeni syndrome, familial adenomatous polyposis, neurofibromatosis, tuberous sclerosis, and Warner syndrome.
Diagnosis
Sometimes, it may be challenging to diagnose this cancer type because tumors are very similar to other cancers. Check below some tests and procedures done to determine what cancer type a person has:
Imaging Tests
The following tests produce detailed images of different body parts. Doctors usually perform them to see the size and location of the tumors. For example:
- Positron emission tomography (PET) scans
- MRI scans
- CT scans
- X-rays
Biopsy
This procedure involves the removal of a sample of cells and send to the laboratory. Doctors will test these cells for cancer cells. Check below some biopsy types for soft tissue sarcoma:
- Core needle biopsy – In such cases, doctors use a needle to remove a sample of a tumor. Mostly, doctors try to remove small samples from different cancer parts.
- Surgical biopsy – Sometimes, physicians can suggest removing a larger sample of tissue during surgery.
Treatment
The treatment used to treat soft tissue sarcoma depends on several factors (including the tumor’s size, location, and others). Check below some treatment options usually recommended by doctors for people with this cancer type:
Surgery
This is one of the most common treatments used to treat soft tissue sarcoma. The surgeons will remove the tumors during surgery and some healthy tissue around them. Commonly, this cancer form impacts the arms and legs. However, in the past, surgery that remove completely a leg or arm was common but nowadays, other methods are available that avoid the complete removal of one or more limbs. For instance, chemotherapy and radiation therapy can be used to shrink the tumors and thereafter removed during surgery. Such approaches prevent the need to remove an arm or leg entirely.
Radiation Therapy
This therapy uses powerful energy beams to destroy cancer cells. The energy of this procedure comes from X-rays, protons, and other sources. In normal circumstances, the patient is lying on a table while a special machinery moves around him/her and sends radiation to specific body parts. Check below when radiation therapy can be recommended by doctors:
- Before surgery – In some cases, this therapy is needed to reduce the size of the tumor making it easier to be removed.
- During surgery – Using this treatment option during surgery can spare healthy tissues around the target area.
- After surgery – Sometimes, cancer cells may remain even after surgery. Hence, doctors may recommend radiation therapy to destroy them.
Chemotherapy
This treatment involves strong medications (usually given intravenously) to kill cancer cells throughout the body. Doctors prescribe chemotherapy usually for rhabdomyosarcoma because it responds better than other soft tissue sarcoma types.
Targeted Therapy
Healthcare professionals may sometimes prescribe some medicines that attack specific proteins in the cancer cells, which lead to their death. Furthermore, targeted therapy is an effective treatment method for people with some soft tissue sarcoma types (including gastrointestinal stromal tumors or GISTs).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is life expectancy in people with soft tissue sarcoma?
Generally, approximately 65% of adults with this cancer type are alive after 5 years. Furthermore, roughly 70% of adolescents and children with rhabdomyosarcoma live at least 5 years after diagnosis.
What is the main symptom of soft tissue sarcoma?
Commonly, people with soft tissue sarcoma experience a growing lump that keeps increasing in size, it is painful and becomes larger than a golf ball. Moreover, some people experience a recurrence of the tumor after removal. For more details, consult with your doctor.
What are the possible complications of soft tissue sarcoma?
There are some life-threatening complications that may occur in people with soft tissue sarcoma. Examples include:
- Bleeding
- Blood clots
- Infections
If you have additional questions, ask your healthcare professional.
