Sarcoma

Sarcoma is cancer of the bones and soft tissue.

Bone cancer may be a tumor that forms in a bone, or it may be a tumor from another part of the body that spreads to a bone. Some bone cancers, including osteosarcoma and Ewing sarcoma is more common in children and young adults.

Soft tissue cancer causes tumors in muscles, tendons, or the fat underneath the skin. They can occur anywhere in the body but are most common in the arms, legs, chest and abdomen.

The cause of sarcoma and the reasons people get it are unknown. Research shows that some cancer syndromes that are inherited from family may increase sarcoma risk.

Radiation therapy given to treat other cancers, like breast cancer or lymphoma, can increase the risk of sarcoma. These sarcomas often start in the part of the body that was treated with radiation.

If you have any symptoms of sarcoma, your provider will begin by performing a physical examination.  

If additional testing is needed, they may recommend one or more of the following:

• X-ray. Your provider is more likely to use X-rays if the sarcoma appears to be in a bone. This text allows your provider to take a picture of the inside of the bone, which can make it easier to tell how large the mass is and if it is a cancerous tumor.
• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). These scans can help your provider see the exact size and position of your tumor. Your provider can also use this to determine if the cancer has spread to other parts of the body.
• Computed tomography (CT). These scans can help your provider see the exact size and position of your tumor. This is a good alternative for those who can’t undergo an MRI.
• Biopsy. This test involves taking a sample of your tumor and viewing it under a microscope to see if any cancer cells are present.

Treatments for sarcoma depend on the type of sarcoma, its location in the body and whether or it is has spread. Many sarcomas can be treated with surgery. A surgeon who is specially trained in cancer surgeries removes the tumor and some of the healthy bone or tissue that surrounds the tumor. This prevents the sarcoma from spreading.

Not long ago, bone cancer surgery often required amputation of a limb. Today, bone cancer surgeons save the limb about 95 percent of the time, sometimes using prosthetics that are custom made for the patient.

If the cancer has grown and spread to other parts of the body, treatments like chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or CAR T-cell therapy may also be used.

We also offer clinical trials, which are research studies that give you the opportunity to receive the most recent, advanced treatment options, such as drugs that are not yet on the market and other promising treatments that could increase your chances for recovery and improve your quality of life. Holden researchers also are actively involved in cutting-edge studies that are testing new ways to treat sarcoma.