1. Total Body Involvement
Soft tissue sarcomas are malignant tumors that grow in any connective or supportive tissue in the body such as muscles, fat, blood vessels, tendons, fibrous tissue, nerves and linings of the joints. They can appear almost anywhere, though nearly 60 percent of soft tissue sarcomas are located in the arms or legs. The word "sarcoma" is of Greek origin and means "fleshy growth." This type of cancer is very rare, with fewer than 10,000 cases reported annually. It strikes both the young and old, and appears only slightly more in men than in women.
2. A Deadly Variety
There are many types of soft tissue sarcomas depending on where the tumor originates. Sarcomas that are found in muscles have two types, for instance, depending on whether they are located in smooth muscles (leiomyosarcomas) or skeletal muscles (rhabdomyosarcomas), as do tumors found in fibrous tissue (fibrosarcomas in the torso, arms and legs, and dermatofibrosarcomas in skin tissue). The list includes hemangiosarcomas (blood vessels), liposarcomas (fat), lymphangiosarcomas (lymph vessels), synovial sarcomas (joint tissue) and neurofibrosarcomas (nerves).
3. Symptoms
Unfortunately, there's not much to look for in when it comes to most soft tissue sarcomas. Symptoms vary depending on the site of the tumor, with most displaying no signs at all. They rarely display any symptoms in early stages, so most tumors are not found until advanced. A lump can be found when the tumor has grown large enough. Tumors that press on muscles and nerves can result in pain, as can those found in the abdomen. Sarcomas in the abdomen can also cause a blockage or bleeding. In about half of the cases of soft tissue sarcomas, the cancer is not found until it has spread.
4. Reasons for This Rare Type of Cancer
Though there are no known specific causes of soft tissue sarcomas, one does have a known cause: Karposi's sarcoma (found in the walls of blood vessels) is caused by human herpes virus eight. Some rare inherited diseases can increase the risk of soft tissue sarcomas: retinoblastoma (childhood eye cancer), Li-Fraumeni Syndrome (cancer predisposition syndrome), Gardner's Syndrome (genetic disorder marked by colon polyps and tumors outside the colon) and neurofibromatosis. Exposure to radiation and some chemicals can also increase risk.
5. Finding It and Fighting It
The best way to diagnose soft tissue sarcoma is to have an X-ray, MRI or CT scan locate the tumor and then confirm malignancy by having a pathologist examine a biopsy of the tumor. This cancer is so rare that not many doctors have experience in treating it. Amputation of the diseased limb was once performed regularly, but now radiation therapy is used in most cases. Chemotherapy may also combat the disease, but its effectiveness is dependent on the type of soft tissue sarcoma being treated.
