A soft tissue cancer is also known as a soft tissue sarcoma. Cancer starts when normal cells in the body become pathological and start to multiply and grow out of control. This can happen to cells in practically any part of the body. The spectrum of cancer varies from the benign type (localized, confined and non-spreading) to the intermediate type to the other end, the malignant type (spreading, destructive and metastasizing). Normal cells can turn cancerous, and spread to the rest of the body, affecting all its organs.
A sarcoma is a specific cancer type of cancer arising from certain tissues, such as bone or muscle. The two main types of sarcoma are the bone and soft tissue sarcomas. As the name suggests, soft tissue sarcomas can develop from soft tissues like collagenous fibrous tissue, fat, muscle, nerves, cartilage or blood vessels and are named according to the tissue of origin.
Where are soft tissue sarcomas found ?
They can be found in any part of the body. Most of them are seen developing in the arms or the legs. Soft tissue sarcomas can also occur in the trunk, head and neck area, internal organs, and the back of the abdominal cavity also called the retroperitoneum. These sarcomas are not really frequent tumours. Most of the cancers originate from epithelial tissue and are called “carcinomas”.
Soft tissue sarcomas pose a challenge to oncologists due to their nature, the rarity of their incidence, and the highly varied outcomes. There is now improved care for soft tissue cancers, owing to advances in diagnostic techniques, emergence of effective surgical techniques, better radiotherapy and chemotherapy.
What are the risk factors for soft tissue sarcomas ?
Risk factors are factors that increase your chances of getting a particular disease. Hence, these are better avoided. However, it is also possible to get a cancer without any known risk factor contributing to it.
The risk factors that increase the incidence of soft tissue sarcomas include;
- Exposure to Radiation/ radiation therapy for other cancers.
- Certain genetic diseases, associated with particular genetic mutations.
- A lymphatic system which is damaged/ obstructed.
- Certain chemicals (such as vinyl chloride & arsenic).
- Lifestyle factors like smoking, exercise & injury are NOT contributory to soft tissue sarcomas.
Are soft tissue sarcomas preventable ?
Soft tissue sarcomas arise from a multi-step process of cancer formation known as carcinogenesis. Hence, soft tissue sarcomas can be prevented from arising by avoiding the risk factors, as far as possible. However, the sarcomas, which arise with no recognized risk factors, may still arise, despite being careful.
Can soft tissue sarcomas be detected early ?
People who have a substantial familial association of sarcomas or who have had a prior history of cancers should probably undergo genetic testing and counselling. The familial cancers have particular genetic mutations, which are passed on from one family member to the next. Hence, these mutations can be tested for, to tell if you are a high-risk patient or not.
If you are found to be a high-risk patient, there will be a need for regular, habitual cancer detection tests. You should inform your doctor about any lumps or growths immediately.
No screening tests and exams are needed for people who have no prior familial or individual history of sarcoma or other risk factors.
What are the signs and symptoms of soft tissue sarcomas ?
Majority of sarcomas start in the limbs. Most people merely observe a bump or a lump that is slowly increasing in size. The lump might be either painful or painless.
The actual symptoms of sarcomas arise from the area or the organ they primarily affect or secondarily spread to. Sometimes the tumours are painful. If they occur in the gastrointestinal tract or retroperitoneum, they cause bleeding or blockages of the stomach or intestines. They can grow so large as to be palpable from the outside, sometimes.
If you notice these symptoms, contact your doctor;
- A recent lump or a growing lump
- Abdominal pain or pain in the lump
- Presence of blood in your cough, stool or vomit
- Presence of black, tarry stools
These symptoms can also be generic, that is they can be caused by diseases other than sarcoma. However, it is important to get them checked immediately, even to rule out sarcoma.
What are the questions you need to ask your doctor, if you have sarcoma ?
- What is the kind of sarcoma I have?
- How much know-how do you have in diagnosing and treating my particular kind of sarcoma?
- How far has the sarcoma spread?
- What is the staging of my sarcoma and what does that imply for me?
- What are my possible treatment options?
- Which is the best treatment for me?
- Would I have any side effects from the recommended treatment?
- What are the odds of my cancer recurring?
- How can I be prepared for cancer treatment?
- What is my prognosis?
How is the diagnosis of soft tissue sarcomas established ?
If there are suspicious signs or symptoms indicating possible sarcoma or presence of the risk factors for sarcoma, your doctor will examine you, and put you through a battery of investigative tests to see if you have cancer. The earlier diagnosed, the better it is.
What are the tests to diagnose soft tissue sarcoma ?
These include imaging tests, such as an ultrasound, computed tomography scan (CT-Scan) and the clearer magnetic resonance imaging scan (MRI Scan). The other scans include Positron Emission Tomography (PET Scan) or integrated PET-CT Scans. A biopsy is taken, which basically means a bit of tissue is taken from the lump (if the lump is small, then the entire lump is removed), to study it under the microscope and give it a diagnosis.
How are soft tissue sarcomas staged ?
After the diagnosis of a sarcoma is established, the next most important thing is to see how much the cancer has spread. This is done by a process called as “staging”. In staging of cancers, what doctors do is study the tumour and its cells under the microscope to see if it is benign and indolent or malignant and aggressive.
Grading is done by taking biopsies and imaging examinations of all the other parts of the body, as well. Staging of soft tissue sarcomas is based on both histological and clinical information.
The staging of a sarcoma is the primary noteworthy factor in predicting every patient’s prognosis and in deciding the best treatment options. Prognosis is nothing but how the disease will take its course and how it affects survival.
When studying the biopsy tissue under the microscope, the pathologist has to note how the cells are actively multiplying, their numbers and their activity. It also matters how much the cancerous tissue resembles the normal tissue, from which it has arisen. That is known as differentiation and ranges from one end from being well- differentiated to moderately-differentiated to being poorly- differentiated. Well-differentiated tumours behave better whilst poorly differentiated tumours are aggressive in behaviour.
How are soft tissue sarcomas treated ?
Patients with sarcoma will need a complete health care team made up of many doctors from numerous specialties, like;
- A specialist surgeon: Based on the site of the body the sarcoma affects, you will need a surgeon of that particular specialty (either orthopaedic or thoracic or abdominal surgeon).
- An oncosurgeon: These are doctors who treat cancer specifically, with surgery.
- Oncologists: A team of a surgical oncologist, medical oncologist and a radiation oncologist are needed to treat cancers.
- Counsellors: Psychiatric, financial and social counselling will be needed.
After a sarcoma is established and staged, the mainstays of treatment for soft tissue sarcoma are;
- First and foremost surgery (To remove the primary tumour/ metastatic deposits)
- Radiation (To shrink the tumour and make sure it doesn’t recur)
- Chemotherapy (Cellular poisons which kill cells)
- Targeted therapy (tissue or cell specific therapy)
There is also an option of alternative (in place of modern medicine) or complementary medicine (along with modern medicine). These include special diet supplements, vitamins, ayurvedic herbs, or other more indigenous methods such as acupuncture and acupressure.
These can definitely be tried, especially if they make you feel better, but they are not completely proven to treat cancers. Consult your doctor about these therapies as well, so it does not interfere with your standard treatment.
There is a chance of developing recurrent sarcomas. It is referred to as ‘recurrent’ when it recurs after treatment. Recurrence can be of two types- either in the same site or a far off, distant site (some other organ). It can be treated again with a combination of surgery, radiation and chemotherapy.
What do we mean by survival rates of soft tissue sarcomas ?
Survival rate is a term used by doctors as a yardstick for assessing a person’s prognosis.
Survival rate is determined by many factors, including the type of sarcoma, its location, the stage of the sarcoma, at the time of diagnosis and the treatment received for it. Also, elderly patients are inclined to have poorer outcomes than young people.
Survival rates are decided by previous outcomes of significant numbers of people who have been afflicted by the disease, but they are not completely predictive in every individual’s case. Your doctor can give you a better idea than the general survival rate figures, as he or she will be well-versed with your case.
How to find and reach cancer specialists for the treatment of soft tissue sarcomas ?
Now you can find and reach cancer specialists for soft tissue sarcoma treatment from different cancer hospitals and destinations on a single platform, Hinfoways. You can avail opinions and information from multiple cancer specialists, cost estimates for soft tissue sarcoma treatment from different cancer hospitals, compare things and then choose a cancer specialist for soft tissue sarcoma treatment.
Find, reach and choose a cancer specialist for the treatment of soft tissue sarcoma on Hinfoways. Make an informed choice.
Disclaimer: The content provided here is meant for general informational purposes only and hence SHOULD NOT be relied upon as a substitute for sound professional medical advice, care or evaluation by a qualified doctor/physician or other relevantly qualified healthcare provider.
