Soft tissue sarcomas

A soft tissue sarcoma is a growth of abnormal cells in the body's soft tissues. These tissues include the muscles, lymph and blood vessels, nerves, and fat. It can also include cartilage and other connective tissue. When cancer cells are found in the tissue, the tumor is called malignant.

Sarcoma is another name for a malignant soft tissue tumor. Sarcomas can spread to other parts of the body, like the lungs.

Your child may feel a swelling or lump on his or her body. Usually there isn't any pain.

The doctor will ask about your child's symptoms and past health and will examine your child. If the doctor can feel a lump or mass in the soft tissue, or if your child has other symptoms, your child will get some tests. The tests can help find out if it's cancer. They can also help the doctor figure out the best treatment for the tumor.

The doctor may also find a tumor when taking X-rays or images for another problem.

• Your child may have one or more imaging tests to get a better look at the tumor. These may include:
  • X-rays.
  • Ultrasound.
  • CT scan.
  • MRI scan.
  • PET or other nuclear scan.
• Your child may need blood tests and other lab work.
• Your child may need a biopsy so a sample of the tumor can be looked at under a microscope. This sample may also be used to test for biomarkers. They will help with planning treatment.
• Doctors may also examine other parts of your child's body to make sure that the tumor hasn't spread.

The doctor may talk to you about what "stage" your child's cancer is. The stage refers to how large the tumor is and how far it has spread. It also includes the tumor grade. The grade describes what the cancer cells look like and how likely they are to grow and spread.

These can help the doctor find out what type of treatment your child may need. And they may help to find a clinical trial that has treatments for your child's type of cancer.

Treatment for a soft tissue sarcoma is based on the stage, type, and location of the cancer and other things, such as your overall health. The main treatments include:

Surgery.

You'll probably have surgery to remove the cancer.

Radiation therapy.

This uses high-dose X-rays to destroy cancer cells and shrink tumors. It may be used before, during, or after surgery.

Chemotherapy.

These medicines kill fast-growing cells, including cancer cells and some normal cells.

In some cases, other treatments may be used, such as:

Targeted therapy.

These medicines target cancer cells and may cause less harm to normal cells. They help keep cancer from growing or spreading.

Immunotherapy.

This treatment helps your immune system fight cancer. It may be given in several ways.

Sometimes a clinical trial may be a good choice.

Your doctor will talk with you about your options and then make a treatment plan.

Taking medicines as prescribed and getting enough sleep may help you feel better. If it's hard to eat, talk to your doctor or a dietitian. Get some physical activity each day if you can. Consider joining a support group or talking with a counselor.