Soft tissue sarcomas

"Soft tissue sarcomas - Illnesses & conditions | NHS inform Home Illnesses and conditions Symptoms and self-help Tests and treatments Healthy living Care, support and rights Scotlands Service Directory 0 Home Illnesses and conditions Cancer Cancer types in adults Soft tissue sarcomas Soft tissue sarcomas Soft tissue sarcomas are a group of rare cancers affecting the tissues that connect, support and surround other body structures and organs. Tissues that can be affected by soft tissue sarcomas include fat, muscle, blood vessels, deep skin tissues, tendons and ligaments. Soft tissue sarcomas can develop in almost any part of the body, including the legs, armsand the trunk (torso). There are many different types of soft tissue sarcoma, depending on where in the body they are located. For example: leiomyosarcomas  which develop in muscle tissue liposarcomas  which develop in fat tissue angiosarcomas  which develop in the cells of the blood or lymph vessels gastrointestinal stromal tumours (GISTs)  which can develop inthe connective tissues that support the organs of the digestive system Soft tissue sarcomas account for around 1 in every 100 cancers diagnosed in the UK. What causes soft tissue sarcomas? Cancer develops when cells multiply uncontrollably, forming tumours. In the vast majority of soft tissue sarcomas its unclear what causes this to happen but there are a number of factors known to increase the risk, including: age  soft tissue sarcomas can occur at any age, including in children, but they are more common in middle-aged or elderly people and your risk increases as you get older certain genetic conditions  some genetic conditions, such as neurofibromatosis type 1 and retinoblastoma, are associated with an increased risk of soft tissue sarcomas previous radiotherapy  some people who have previously had radiotherapy for another type of cancer develop a soft tissue sarcoma, often many years after their previous treatment exposure to certain chemicals  exposure to some chemicals, including vinyl chloride, dioxins and phenoxyacetic herbicides, has been associated with increased rates of soft tissue sarcomas One particular type of soft tissue sarcoma called Kaposis sarcoma  which develops in skin cells  is caused by a virus known as the human herpesvirus type 8 (HHV-8) infecting someone with a weakened immune system (such as people with HIV ). Signs and symptoms As soft tissue sarcomas can develop in most parts of the body, they can cause a wide range of symptoms. For example, a tumour near the stomach may cause abdominal (tummy) pain , a feeling of fullness and constipation , whereas a tumour near the lungs may cause a cough or breathlessness . There are often no obvious symptoms in the early stages of soft tissue sarcomas, although you may notice a soft, painless lump under your skin or deeper, that cant easily be moved around and gets bigger over time. You should speak to your GP if you have a worrying lump or any other troublesome symptoms. A lump the size of a golf ball or larger should be regarded as suspicious and needs to be investigated urgently. Although it is much more likely you have a benign (non-cancerous) condition, it is important to get your symptoms checked out. Diagnosing soft tissue sarcomas If your GP feels there is a possibility you do have cancer, they will refer you for a number of hospital tests to confirm whether you have a soft tissue sarcoma. In 2015, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence ( NICE ) published guidelines to help GPs recognise the signs and symptoms ofsoft tissue sarcomaand refer people for the right tests faster. To find out if you should be referred for further tests for suspected soft tissue sarcoma, read the NICE 2015 guidelines on Suspected Cancer: Recognition and Referral . A diagnosis of a soft tissue sarcoma will usually be made by a hospital specialist and will be based on your symptoms, a physical examination, and the results of: a biopsy  where a sample of suspected cancerous tissue is removed using a needle or during an operation so it can be tested and analysed in a laboratory imaging tests  a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan is the main type of scan carried out to assess soft tissue sarcomas, although other scans may also be carried out If a diagnosis of a soft tissue sarcoma is confirmed, these tests will also help determine how far the cancer has spread (known as the stage) and how aggressive the cancer is (known as the grade). Treating soft tissue sarcomas If youre diagnosed with a soft tissue sarcoma your care team of specialist doctors and nurses will help you decide on the most appropriate treatment. Treatment depends on factors such as the stage and grade of the cancer, the location of any tumours, and your age and general health. The main treatments used are: surgery  to remove any tumours radiotherapy  where high-energy radiation is used to kill cancer cells chemotherapy  where medication is used to kill cancer cells Surgery Surgery is the main treatment for soft tissue sarcomas that are detected at an early stage. It involves removing the cancerous tumour along with a section of surrounding healthy tissue. This will help ensure no cancer cells are left behind. Every effort will be made to reduce the impact of surgery on the appearance and functionality of the affected body part. But there is a possibility youll have some difficulty using the part of the body that is operated on after surgery and sometimes reconstructive plastic surgery may be needed to repair significant damage. In a small number of cases, there may be no option but to amputate the part of the body where the cancer is located, such as part of the leg. Radiotherapy Radiotherapy is often used after surgery to destroy any remaining cancer cells. This is carried out using an external machine that directs beams of radiation at a defined treatment area. Radiotherapy may also sometimes be used before surgery to make a tumour easier to remove, or as part of your treatment to reduce your symptoms if surgery is not possible. Common side effects of radiotherapy include sore skin, tiredness andhair lossin the treatment area. These tend to get better within a few days or weeks of treatment finishing. Read more about the side effects of radiotherapy Chemotherapy Like radiotherapy, chemotherapy is sometimes used before surgery to shrink a tumour and make it easier to remove. This involves being given anti-cancer medication directly into a vein (intravenously). Chemotherapy may also be used alone or alongside radiotherapy for soft tissue sarcomas that cannot be surgically removed. Chemotherapy medications have a poisonous effect on the bodys cells, and can cause a number of temporary but unpleasant side effects, such as feeling tired and weak all the time, feeling and being sick, and hair loss from several parts of the body. Read more about the side effects of chemotherapy Outlook As with most types of cancer, the outlook for a soft tissues sarcoma depends largely on how far the cancer has advanced when it is diagnosed. If the cancer is detected at an early stage and can be removed during surgery, there is a possibility it can be cured. But youll need regular check-ups following treatment to check for any signs the cancer has come back. You may also need long-term physiotherapy and occupational therapy to help you manage any physical difficulties resulting from surgery. Acure is not usually possible if a soft tissue sarcoma is only detected at a late stage when it has already spread to other parts of the body, although treatment can help slow the spread of the cancer and control your symptoms. Read further information: Macmillan Cancer Support: soft tissue sarcomas Sarcoma UK: what is sarcoma? Source: NHS 24 - Opens in new browser window Last updated: 14 November 2023 How can we improve this page? Help us improve NHS inform Thank You Your feedback has been received Dont include personal information e.g. name, location or any personal health conditions. 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