What is Sarcoma?

Sarcoma is a rare and complex cancer (malignant tumour) arising from the bone, cartilage or soft tissues such as fat, muscle, connective tissue or blood vessels.

Sarcomas can form anywhere in the body and are frequently hidden deep in the limbs. They are often misdiagnosed as a benign (non-cancerous) lump, or as a sporting injury or growing pains in young people.

There are more than 80 different subtypes of sarcoma, many of which have distinct clinical characteristics with unique natural history and tumour biology.

Prevalence

Sarcoma makes up only 1% of all adult cancers.

Sarcoma accounts for about 20% of cancers diagnosed in childhood, making it one of the most common cancers in children.

Sarcoma makes up to 10% of cancers among adolescent and young adults (aged 15-25).

Symptoms

Soft tissue sarcomas often have no obvious symptoms in the early stages, but can cause symptoms as they get bigger or spread. The symptoms depend on where the cancer develops.

You should see your GP if you have a worrying lump – particularly one that is getting bigger over time or is the size of a golf ball or larger – or any other troublesome symptoms.

Although it is much more likely you have a non-cancerous condition, such as a cyst (fluid under the skin) or lipoma (fatty lump), it's important to get your symptoms checked out.

Diagnosis

If your GP feels there's a possibility you have cancer, they'll refer you for a number of hospital tests.

Diagnosis for soft tissue sarcoma will usually be made by a health specialist and will be based on your symptoms, physical examination and the results of:

• Scans – an ultrasound scan is the first test performed and is ; further scans such as computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans may later.

• Biopsy – a sample of suspected cancerous tissue is removed using a needle during an operation, so it can be tested and analysed in a laboratory.

If a diagnosis of a soft tissue sarcoma is confirmed, a pathologist will further examine how likely the cancer is to spread (known as grade), and whether or how far the cancer has spread (known as stage).

Treatment

People with a soft tissue sarcoma are cared for by a multi-disciplinary team of health specialists (usually pathologists, radiologists, surgeons, radiation oncologists, medical oncologists and paediatric oncologists), who will help decide on the most appropriate treatment.

Treatment decision depends on factors such as the tumour location, the subtype of sarcoma, how far it has spread, age and general health.

The main treatments are:

• Surgery – removing any tumour is the treatment for most types of soft tissue sarcoma.

• Radiotherapy – the use of high-energy radiation to kill cancer cells.

• Chemotherapy – the use of anti-cancer drugs to kill cancer cells.

These treatments can be given alone or in combination.

note: information on this page has been sourced from the Australia New Zealand Sarcoma Association. See sarcoma.org.au