We Treat
Sarcoma
The term sarcoma encompasses a wide group of cancers that occur in the bones or soft connective tissues of the body. It is a rare cancer, constituting only 1% of all adult cancers and 15% of childhood cancers. Given that there are over 70 unique subtypes and no proven screening test, it’s crucial to seek out a compassionate and experienced multidisciplinary healthcare team. Finding experts who are well-versed in diagnosis and the latest cancer treatments, such as our team at SCRI Oncology Partners, can make a significant difference in your journey.
There are two main types of sarcomas- soft tissue sarcomas and bone sarcomas, each named for where they begin in the body. Soft tissue sarcomas form in the muscle, nerves, tendons, fat and lining of your joints; the tissues that connect and support the structures of your body. Bone sarcomas can develop in many areas of the body, but they most often form in the arms, legs, and pelvis.
If you are looking for an oncologist team in Nashville or Tennessee with experience in sarcomas, our team at SCRI Oncology Partners is here to stand by your side, offering the guidance and information you need to navigate your treatment journey with confidence and care.
There are two main types of sarcomas- soft tissue sarcomas and bone sarcomas, each named for where they begin in the body. Soft tissue sarcomas form in the muscle, nerves, tendons, fat and lining of your joints; the tissues that connect and support the structures of your body. Bone sarcomas can develop in many areas of the body, but they most often form in the arms, legs, and pelvis.
If you are looking for an oncologist team in Nashville or Tennessee with experience in sarcomas, our team at SCRI Oncology Partners is here to stand by your side, offering the guidance and information you need to navigate your treatment journey with confidence and care.
What are some of the signs and symptoms of sarcoma?
Sarcomas are difficult to diagnose because the early symptoms are easily mistaken for other conditions. The signs and symptoms can also vary widely based on the location of the tumor and often begin as a painless lump or swelling.
The most common sarcoma symptoms can include:
- A noticeable lump or swelling that can be felt through the skin, even if not painful, in either the soft tissue or bone
- Fatigue and weight loss
- Bone pain or unexplained fractures and broken bones
- Sudden limited range of motion in a joint
- A fever of unknown origin
- Abdominal pain
If you notice any new or unusual symptoms, please reach out to your physician. It’s important to identify the cause so that we can provide the care and treatment you need. Your health and well-being matter to us.
Risk Factors
Staging
Treatment
Clinical Trials
How is sarcoma diagnosed?
If it is suspected that you may have a sarcoma you will be referred to an oncologist who will perform a physical examination to search for lumps, swelling or tenderness. Following this, your caring oncologist in Tennessee may recommend a series of imaging tests to thoroughly look for any possible tumors within your body. This may include X-rays, computed tomography (CT) scans, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), ultrasound imaging or positron emission tomography (PET) scans.
Following imaging tests your healthcare team will often order a biopsy, where your oncologist will remove a small sample of your tissue, such as through a needle, and have a pathologist analyze the tissue to see if it contains cancer cells. They may also utilize next-generation sequencing on this tissue to understand what type of sarcoma you have and what treatments may work best.
Risk factors for sarcoma
Certain risk factors can increase your chances of developing sarcomas. Some of these, like smoking, can be changed. It’s important to remember that while some people with multiple risk factors never develop sarcomas, others with no known risk factors do. By understanding what might increase your chances, you can take proactive steps to manage your health as best as possible.
Some common risk factors for sarcoma include:
- Family history of cancer or inherited disorders such as Werner Syndrome or tuberous sclerosis
- Previous radiation therapy for cancer
- Long-term swelling, or lymphedema
- Occupational exposure to chemicals like vinyl chloride monomer, dioxin, arsenic or some herbicides
Staging
Cancer staging refers to the process of determining the extent of cancer in the body, including the size of the tumor and whether it has spread to other areas. If you have received a sarcoma diagnosis your healthcare team will use physical exams, biopsies, imaging tests or any other testing that has been done to determine your sarcoma’s stage. Each person’s cancer is unique, but cancers within the same stage share similar outlooks and approaches to treatment.
The American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) has developed a formal system to describe the growth and spread of cancer cells, based on three pieces of information:
- The size and location of the main tumor
- The spread to lymph nodes, which are small immune system organs found throughout the body
- The spread to other parts of the body, called metastasis
Your provider uses this information to stage your sarcoma by assigning it a number. The higher the number, the more the cancer has grown locally or spread throughout your body. Your healthcare team may also determine what grade your cancer based on the appearance of the cancer cells. Generally, the more normal the cancer cells appear, the better your prognosis.
Here is an overview of the stages for soft tissue sarcomas:
Stage I Soft Tissue Sarcomas
Stage 1
In this stage the tumor is still small and has not spread to other organs.
Stage III Soft Tissue Sarcomas
Stage III
In this stage the cancer has not spread but is larger than in stage II.
Stage II Soft Tissue Sarcomas
Stage II
In this stage the cancer has not spread, but the tissue looks different from healthy tissue.
Stage IV Soft Tissue Sarcomas
Stage IV
The cancer has spread to nearby lymph nodes or other organs of the body.
Stage I Soft Tissue Sarcomas
Stage 1
In this stage the tumor is still small and has not spread to other organs.
Stage II Soft Tissue Sarcomas
Stage II
In this stage the cancer has not spread, but the tissue looks different from healthy tissue.
Stage III Soft Tissue Sarcomas
Stage III
In this stage the cancer has not spread but is larger than in stage II.
Stage IV Soft Tissue Sarcomas
Stage IV
The cancer has spread to nearby lymph nodes or other organs of the body.
And here is a general outline of the stages for bone sarcomas:
Stage I Bone Sarcomas
Stage I
The tumor is small and has not spread, although there may be multiple tumors present.
Stage III Bone Sarcomas
Stage III
The cancer has not spread but the bone has developed more than one tumor with tissue that looks very different from normal tissue.
Stage II Bone Sarcomas
Stage II
The cancer has not spread, but the tissue looks different from healthy tissue
Stage IV Bone Sarcomas
Stage IV
The cancer has spread to the lungs, lymph nodes, other bones or organs.
Stage I Bone Sarcomas
Stage I
The tumor is small and has not spread, although there may be multiple tumors present.
Stage II Bone Sarcomas
Stage II
The cancer has not spread, but the tissue looks different from healthy tissue
Stage III Bone Sarcomas
Stage III
The cancer has not spread but the bone has developed more than one tumor with tissue that looks very different from normal tissue.
Stage IV Bone Sarcomas
Stage IV
The cancer has spread to the lungs, lymph nodes, other bones or organs.
How is sarcoma treated?
If you’ve recently been diagnosed with cancer, please know that your cancer care team is here to support you every step of the way. They will work closely with you to develop a treatment plan that aligns with your specific type of cancer and your overall health goals. The recommended treatment will take into account various factors, including the type and location of your cancer, your age and the stage of the disease.
Removing cancer with surgery is a common treatment for sarcomas, but for patients with metastatic sarcomas, stereotactic radiosurgery offers a noninvasive alternative to surgery. Other treatments may be used in conjunction with surgery, either before or after, such as:
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy, to make a tumor smaller, or to destroy cancer cells remaining after surgery, help other treatments work better or destroy cancer cells in other parts of the body.
Targeted therapies
Targeted therapies and immunotherapies are both drug treatments that are used to fight cancer. Targeted therapies are used to attack specific weaknesses in cancer cells while immunotherapy uses your immune system to fight cancer. Your healthcare team may recommend specific targeted therapies or immunotherapies after testing your sarcoma cells with next generation sequencing to see if they are likely to respond to targeted therapy drugs.
Other treatments
Sometimes sarcomas may be treated with thermal ablation treatments to heat, freeze or use high-frequency ultrasound waves to damage the cancer cells.
Sarcoma clinical trials
Today’s clinical trials are tomorrow’s treatment options. A clinical trial can help determine if a treatment, drug or procedure shows a better way of treating a particular cancer or condition. At SCRI Oncology Partners we are committed to offering the latest clinical trials to improve your outcomes and ensure access to cutting-edge scientific advancements for our patients in the community.
If you are looking for a local oncologist in Nashville, Tennessee or you are interested in participating in a clinical trial for sarcoma through our collaboration with Sarah Cannon Research Institute (SCRI), a global leader in oncology research, the first step is to talk to our healthcare team.
Contact Us
Whether you are newly diagnosed, previously treated or seeking additional care or research options, we are here to support you every step of the way.
Contact Us
Whether you are newly diagnosed, previously treated or seeking additional care or research options, we are here to support you every step of the way.
Contact Us
Whether you are newly diagnosed, previously treated or seeking additional care or research options, we are here to support you every step of the way.