About Your Cancer

Sarcoma, from the Greek word Sarkos or flesh, represent those groups of cancers or malignancies that originate from most typically, the musculoskeletal system (mesenchyme). In contrast to carcinomas, or cancers of the organs, sarcomas are cancers of the supportive structures of the body and include cancers originating in bone, cartilage, muscles, nerves, fat, blood vessels, and connective tissues. There are approximately 9,000 soft tissue sarcomas occurring yearly in the United States and approximately 2,500 bone sarcomas. There are approximately 40 different types of soft tissue sarcoma and 20 different bone sarcomas. Sarcoma as a group represents 1% of all cancers.

Sarcomas may occur at any age and is not uncommonly a disease of the young. The presenting symptoms are few, with a painless, soft tissue mass commonly being the presenting symptom. These masses may produce swelling in the limb, radiating pain or tingling, and may become quite large before being noticed. There are no predisposing risk factors for most sarcomas and they are not hereditary. The primary treatment is surgical resection. At the Mid-America Sarcoma Institute, 95% of our patients are treated in a limb sparing fashion, that is, surgical resection of the involved part with reconstruction of the limb (or spine) using internal prosthetics or bone transplantation techniques. The vast majority of our patients are able to resume a normal life following their treatments.

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