Sarcoma Cancer

CancerGuru Types of Cancer Sarcoma or Bone

Overview

A sarcoma is a rare type of cancer that starts in the bones or soft tissues, like fat, muscles, blood vessels, nerves, or the tissue around bones and joints. Symptoms can vary based on where the tumor is and how big it is. Treatment options may include surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, targeted therapy, or immunotherapy.

What is Sarcoma Cancer?

Sarcoma is a group of cancers that begin in the bones or soft tissues. Soft tissues include muscles, fat, blood vessels, nerves, tendons, and the tissue lining the joints. When cancer starts in these soft tissues, it’s known as soft tissue sarcoma.

There are many different types of sarcomas, and they can develop in various parts of the body. Treatment depends on the type of sarcoma, its location, and other individual factors.

Types of Sarcoma Cancer

There are three main types of primary bone cancer, based on the kind of cell and tissue where the cancer begins:

Osteosarcoma: This is the most common type of bone cancer. It starts in the cells that form new bone tissue. It usually affects teenagers, but it can also occur in children and young adults.
Ewing sarcoma: These tumors can start in the bones or the soft tissues around them. They are most often found in children and teenagers, but some young adults may also be affected.
Chondrosarcoma: This cancer begins in cartilage, the soft connective tissue that helps joints move. It tends to occur more often in adults.

Less common types of bone cancer include:

Chordoma: A rare tumor that forms in the spine or at the base of the skull.
Fibrosarcoma: This cancer starts in the fibrous connective tissue at the ends of bones.
Giant cell tumor: Usually noncancerous, but in rare cases, it can become cancerous.
Undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma: A rare and aggressive cancer that can begin in soft tissue or bone.

Risk Factors

Some factors may increase the risk of developing sarcoma. These include:

Chemical exposure: Contact with certain substances like arsenic, chemicals used in making plastics (such as vinyl chloride), some herbicides, and wood preservatives.
Radiation exposure: Receiving high doses of radiation, often from previous cancer treatments.
Lymphedema: Ongoing swelling in the arms or legs that lasts for a long time.
Genetic conditions: Inherited disorders or gene mutations, including conditions like Li-Fraumeni syndrome, neurofibromatosis type 1, Gardner syndrome, Werner syndrome, von Hippel-Lindau disease, Gorlin syndrome, tuberous sclerosis, and retinoblastoma.

Symptoms

Some people with bone cancer may only notice a painless lump, while others experience a range of symptoms. These signs can sometimes be mistaken for more common issues like growing pains, sports injuries, arthritis, or infections, which can delay diagnosis.

Common symptoms of bone cancer include:

Ongoing bone pain that gets worse over time, often more noticeable at night (may feel throbbing, aching, or sharp)
A lump near the affected area, which can be either firm or soft
Swelling around the area of the bone

Trouble moving, especially if the tumor is near a joint
Feeling very tired
Occasional fever

Causes

The exact cause of most bone cancers is not known. Bone cancer begins when cells in or near a bone go through changes in their DNA. DNA contains the instructions that guide how cells function, including when to grow, divide, and die.

In healthy cells, these instructions keep things balanced. But when DNA changes, the cells may start to grow too quickly and avoid dying when they should. This leads to a buildup of abnormal cells.

These cancer cells can form a lump or tumor, that may grow and damage nearby healthy tissue. Over time, the cancer cells can spread to other parts of the body. When this happens, it's called metastatic cancer.

Diagnosis

Your doctor will start by asking about your medical history and doing a physical exam. To find out the exact type of sarcoma, they may take a tissue sample through a biopsy and run special tests on it.

To help make a diagnosis, they might use some of these tests:

X-ray

This test uses a small amount of radiation to take pictures of bones and soft tissues inside your body.

CT scan (Computed Tomography)

A CT scan combines many X-ray images to create cross-sectional views of your body.

MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging)

This test uses magnets, radio waves, and a computer to make clear images of the inside of your body. It’s often used when an X-ray shows something unusual.

Bone scan

For this test, a small amount of radioactive material is injected into your body. It helps find bone problems, including signs of bone sarcoma.

PET scan (Positron Emission Tomography)

This scan uses a special sugar-based tracer that highlights areas with high sugar use, such as cancer cells. It helps locate tumors.

Biopsy

A small piece of the tumor is removed and sent to a lab. A pathologist looks at the sample under a microscope to check if it’s sarcoma. This helps the doctor figure out the type of sarcoma and decide on the best treatment options.

Treatments

The most common way to treat bone cancer is surgery to remove the tumor. The most common type is limb-sparing surgery, where only the tumor and some nearby healthy tissues are taken out, but the arm or leg is left in place. Surgeons may repair or rebuild the bone using real bone or artificial grafts.

In some cases, the entire limb may need to be removed to treat the cancer. After this type of surgery, you may be fitted with an artificial limb (prosthesis). These devices are advanced and can help you return to daily activities much like before surgery.

Other treatment options include:

Radiation Therapy

This may be used to shrink the tumor before surgery or to kill any cancer cells left behind afterward. In some types of bone cancer, it might be used instead of surgery.

Chemotherapy

This helps treat the main tumor, any cancer that has spread, and cancer cells in the bloodstream. It’s usually given before surgery to help shrink the tumor and stop the spread. After surgery, it helps destroy any cancer cells that remain and lowers the chance of the cancer coming back.

Side Effects of Treatment

Sarcoma cancer treatment is effective but can come with side effects. These side effects vary depending on the treatment you receive, whether it's surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, or targeted therapy.

Surgery:
Surgery is commonly used to remove sarcoma tumors. After surgery, you may experience pain and swelling around the affected area. Scarring can also occur, and if the surgery involves a limb or joint, movement could be limited. In some cases, nerve damage may result in weakness or numbness.
Radiation Therapy:
Radiation therapy helps shrink tumors before surgery or kill remaining cancer cells afterward. Common side effects include skin changes, like redness, dryness, or peeling. Many people also feel tired, especially as treatment continues. Swelling, known as lymphedema, and muscle stiffness may occur, particularly if the lymph nodes are involved.
Chemotherapy:
Chemotherapy treats the main tumor and any spread of cancer cells. It can cause nausea, vomiting, and hair loss. Loss of appetite and mouth sores are also common. Chemotherapy can lower white blood cell counts, making you more prone to infections. It can also cause tiredness and numbness or tingling in the hands and feet (neuropathy).
Targeted Therapy or Immunotherapy:
Targeted therapy and immunotherapy focus on cancer cells or boosting the immune system. Skin problems like rashes or itching are common. Diarrhea, high blood pressure, and fatigue may also occur. In some cases, these treatments can affect the liver, which is often detected through blood tests.

Most side effects can be managed with medications or lifestyle changes. Be sure to talk to your healthcare provider if you experience any new symptoms. They can adjust your treatment plan to help you stay comfortable.

Support

Living with sarcoma cancer can be physically and emotionally challenging. Support is an important part of care and recovery. It can come from many sources and help in different ways throughout your journey.

Medical Support

Your healthcare team will guide you through treatment and recovery. This team may include doctors, nurses, physical therapists, and pain management specialists. They’ll help manage symptoms, treat side effects, and support your overall health during and after treatment.

Emotional Support

A cancer diagnosis can bring stress, anxiety, and fear. Talking to a counselor, psychologist, or support group can help you cope with these emotions. Many people find comfort in sharing their feelings with others who understand what they’re going through.

Family and Friends

Support from loved ones is just as important. Family and friends can help with daily tasks, attend appointments with you, or simply be there to listen. Staying connected to people you trust can improve your mood and help you feel less alone.

Support Groups

Joining a support group lets you meet others facing similar challenges. These groups can be in person or online. They offer a space to share stories, ask questions, and get advice from people who understand sarcoma.

Practical Support

Sometimes, cancer affects your ability to work, travel, or take care of daily needs. Social workers or patient navigators can help you find resources like transportation services, financial aid, or home care support.

Research

Research on sarcoma cancer is ongoing, and scientists are working to better understand this rare group of cancers. The goal is to improve diagnosis, find more effective treatments, and raise survival rates.

Understanding the Disease

Researchers are studying how sarcoma begins and grows. They’re looking at genetic changes in cancer cells to understand why some people develop sarcoma and how it spreads in the body. This helps in creating tests that can catch sarcoma earlier.

New Treatments

Clinical trials are testing new treatment options. These include better chemotherapy drugs, targeted therapies, and immunotherapy. Targeted therapies focus on attacking cancer cells without harming healthy ones. Immunotherapy helps the body’s immune system fight cancer more effectively.

Personalized Medicine

Scientists are working on personalized treatment plans based on each person’s tumor type and genetic makeup. This approach aims to choose the best treatment for each patient and reduce side effects.

Less Invasive Surgery

Advances in surgical techniques are helping doctors remove tumors more precisely while saving as much healthy tissue as possible. This is especially helpful for limb-sparing procedures.

Quality of Life

Research also focuses on improving the quality of life for sarcoma patients. This includes better ways to manage pain, reduce fatigue, and support emotional well-being during and after treatment.

Prevention

Since the exact cause of bone cancer is still unknown, there’s no sure way to prevent it. In some cases, radiation therapy, which is linked to a higher risk of bone cancer, is needed to treat other serious conditions, so it can’t always be avoided.

Still, it’s a good idea to see a healthcare provider if you notice any unusual bone changes, like a lump or ongoing pain. These symptoms don’t always mean cancer, but only a medical expert can find out what’s going on.

Questions to Ask your Healthcare Provider about Sarcoma Cancer

Understanding your diagnosis can help you feel more in control and confident about your care. Here are some helpful questions you might want to ask your doctor:

Q1. What kind of bone cancer do I have?
Q2. Has the cancer spread to other parts of my body?
Q3. What tests will I need to have?
Q4. What treatment choices are available for me?
Q5. What can I expect in terms of recovery or outcome?

Questions to Ask your Healthcare Provider about Sarcoma Cancer