The information on this page was reviewed and approved by
Maurie Markman, MD, President, Medicine & Science at CTCA.
This page was updated on November 5, 2020.
Soft tissue sarcoma is cancer that develops in the tissues that support, connect or surround other structures and organs in the body, such as muscles, tendons, fat, blood vessels and nerves. Symptoms include a lump or mass, uncomfortable swelling, skin lesions and limited mobility. The disease is most often diagnosed in adults over the age of 50, in people with a weakened immune system and in those who have had exposure to some industrial chemicals.
At Cancer Treatment Centers of America® (CTCA), our cancer experts are trained and experienced in diagnosing and treating all stages of soft tissue sarcoma. After undergoing a biopsy, MRI, ultrasound or other diagnostic procedures to evaluate the disease, you will sit with a multidisciplinary team of doctors and clinicians who will work with you to develop a personalized treatment plan tailored to your needs and specific diagnosis. That plan will also include a range of supportive care therapies designed to help you manage the side effects of the disease and its treatment to support your quality of life.
Treatments for soft tissue sarcoma typically involve surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy or targeted therapy, or a combination of two or more of these approaches. Your multidisciplinary team of soft tissue sarcoma experts will answer your questions and recommend treatment options based on your unique diagnosis and needs.
Surgery
Surgery is usually the first-line treatment for this type of cancer. The main forms of surgery for soft tissue sarcomas are wide local incision, amputation and laparoscopic surgery.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy may be used in combination with surgery and radiation therapy to treat advanced-stage disease.
Radiation therapy
Radiation treatments may also be used before (neoadjuvant therapy) or following surgery (adjuvant therapy).
Targeted therapy
Targeted therapy drugs are designed to seek out and kill specific tumor cells while sparing surrounding healthy cells.
Treatments for soft tissue sarcoma may cause a number of side effects, from pain and discomfort to nausea, neuropathy and fatigue. Our supportive care clinicians work with each patient to help prevent and manage side effects of the disease and its treatment—before, during and after regimens are delivered. Supportive care therapies for soft tissue sarcoma patients may include:
Our behavioral health support program is designed to support you and your caregivers before, during and after cancer treatment.
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"From the get-go, I was impressed with the fact that CTCA had all of the types of health care providers I was looking for right there. In addition to oncologists, they had psychologists, naturopathic clinicians and other providers. I was thinking, 'Whoa, these people are on the same page as I’m on.' But first and foremost were the medical oncologist and radiation oncologist. After we met with them, I felt very comfortable."
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