July is Sarcoma Cancer Awareness Month - Community Health of Central Washington

Sarcomas are a rare group of cancers in which malignant cells form in the bones or soft tissues of the body.

More than 13,000 cases of soft tissue sarcoma and approximately 3,600 cases of bone sarcoma are expected to be diagnosed in the United States, according to data from the National Cancer Institute’s Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program (SEER). Some 5,350 and 1,720 people are expected to die from soft tissue and bone sarcomas, respectively. The five-year survival rate for soft tissue sarcomas is 64.7 percent, while the survival rate is 66.0 percent for bone sarcomas.

What is Sarcoma Cancer?

When the word sarcoma is part of the name of a disease, it means the tumor is malignant (cancer). A sarcoma is a type of cancer that starts in tissues like bone or muscle. Bone and soft tissue sarcomas are the main types of sarcoma. Soft tissue sarcomas can develop in soft tissues like fat, muscle, nerves, fibrous tissues, blood vessels, or deep skin tissues. They can be found in any part of the body. Most of them start in the arms or legs. They can also be found in the trunk, head and neck area, internal organs, and the area in back of the abdominal (belly) cavity (known as the retroperitoneum). Sarcomas are not common tumors.

However, sarcoma is still considered to be the “forgotten cancer.” Efforts to encourage research and drug development are made more challenging due to a lack of awareness and understanding. Sarcoma affects more than 50,000 Americans and the families and friends who are by their side. It can touch lives no matter what age and at any location on the body.

Risk Factors

Unfortunately, scientists do not fully understand why some people develop sarcomas while the vast majority do not. However, by identifying common characteristics in groups with unusually high occurrence rates, researchers have been able to single out some indicators that may play a role in causing sarcomas.

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Inherited syndromes.

Some syndromes that increase the risk of cancer can be passed from parents to children. Examples of syndromes that increase the risk of sarcoma include familial retinoblastoma and neurofibromatosis type 1.

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Chronic swelling (lymphedema).

Lymphedema is swelling caused by a backup of lymph fluid that occurs when the lymphatic system is blocked or damaged. It increases the risk of a type of sarcoma called angiosarcoma.

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Radiation therapy for cancer.

Radiation treatment for cancer increases the risk of developing a sarcoma later.

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Exposure to chemicals.

Certain chemicals, such as some industrial chemicals and herbicides, can increase the risk of sarcoma that affects the liver.

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Exposure to viruses.

The virus called human herpesvirus 8 can increase the risk of a type of sarcoma called Kaposi’s sarcoma in people with weakened immune systems.

Sarcoma Overview Infographic

This infographic, provided by the Sarcoma Foundation of America, is a great infographic that summarizes what sarcoma really is.