Sarcoma is a cancer that starts in cells that make up soft tissues, such as muscles and fat. It may also start in blood vessels or inside internal organs. These cells usually grow and develop in an uncontrolled way. They can form a tumor and spread (metastasize) to other parts of the body. If left untreated, sarcoma can be fatal.
Most types of sarcoma occur in children and adults. These cancers are rare and are often found only after a lump or swelling is discovered. It’s important to have any new lump or swelling evaluated by your doctor right away. A sarcoma can be found by doing an imaging test or having a sample of tissue examined under a microscope. The type of sarcoma, its grade and whether it has spread to other parts of the body are important factors in how this disease is treated.
Many people find that their sarcoma is found as a localized (non-metastasized) cancer, which means it has not spread from the site where it first formed. The 5-year relative survival rate for these patients is over 81%.
Some sarcomas are found in a stage that indicates they have spread to other parts of the body (metastasized). The 5-year relative survival rate for these patients, including those who have metastatic sarcoma, is less than 17%. These statistics may change over time, depending on how treatments improve or what other advances are made in sarcoma care.
A small number of sarcomas are caused by inherited DNA mutations. These changes prevent the genes that control cell growth and death from working properly. This can allow uncontrolled cells to grow and develop into a sarcoma. Some types of sarcoma are linked to certain genetic disorders, such as von Recklinghausen disease, Li-Fraumeni syndrome and retinoblastoma.
Scientists are not sure what causes sarcoma. They have identified some risk factors that increase a person’s chance of developing this type of cancer, such as an abnormal gene that increases the risk of sarcoma (KRAS). However, they are not sure what makes one person more likely to develop sarcoma than another.
The most common treatment for sarcoma is surgery to remove the tumor and nearby healthy tissue. Radiation therapy is sometimes used to kill any remaining cancer cells and relieve pain or other symptoms. Chemotherapy is used less often, but it can help shrink a tumor before surgery or ease some of the side effects of radiation therapy. It involves taking cancer-killing medicines into a vein or through a central line in your chest. In some cases, a combination of these treatments is used to treat sarcoma.
