How does sarcoma feel

Lipomas are made of fat cells and are not cancer. Lipomas have often been there for many years and rarely change in size. In the uterus, benign tumors called fibroids leiomyomas far outnumber sarcomas, but sarcomas of the uterus are sometimes mistaken for benign fibroids. People with a sarcoma that starts in the abdomen may not have any symptoms, or they may have pain or a sense of fullness.

Because sarcoma can develop in flexible, elastic tissues or deep spaces in the body, the tumor can often push normal tissue out of its way as it grows. Therefore, a sarcoma may grow quite large before it causes symptoms. Eventually, it may cause pain as the growing tumor begins to press against nerves and muscles. Sarcomas that start in other parts of the body may cause other symptoms or signs.

For example, sarcomas in the uterus can cause uterine bleeding or an increase in the size of the uterus. Tumors that start in the heart or a lung may cause breathing problems or pain in the chest. If you are concerned about any changes you experience, please talk with your doctor. Sometimes the tumors cause pain. About 4 of 10 sarcomas begin in the abdomen belly. These symptoms are more often caused by things other than sarcoma, but they still need to be checked out by a doctor. The size, grade, and stage of the tumor.

How fast the cancer cells are growing and dividing. Where the tumor is in the body. Whether all of the tumor is removed by surgery. The patient's age and general health. Whether the cancer has recurred come back. Key Points After adult soft tissue sarcoma has been diagnosed, tests are done to find out if cancer cells have spread within the soft tissue or to other parts of the body.

There are three ways that cancer spreads in the body. Cancer may spread from where it began to other parts of the body. The grade of the tumor is also used to describe the cancer and plan treatment.

Soft tissue sarcoma can recur come back after it has been treated. Physical exam and health history : An exam of the body to check general signs of health, including checking for signs of disease, such as lumps or anything else that seems unusual. Chest x-ray : An x-ray of the organs and bones inside the chest. An x-ray is a type of energy beam that can go through the body and onto film, making a picture of areas inside the body.

Blood chemistry studies : A procedure in which a blood sample is checked to measure the amounts of certain substances released into the blood by organs and tissues in the body. An unusual higher or lower than normal amount of a substance can be a sign of disease. Complete blood count CBC : A procedure in which a sample of blood is drawn and checked for the following: The number of red blood cells , white blood cells , and platelets.

The amount of hemoglobin the protein that carries oxygen in the red blood cells. The portion of the blood sample made up of red blood cells. The cancer spreads from where it began by growing into nearby areas. Lymph system. The cancer spreads from where it began by getting into the lymph system. The cancer travels through the lymph vessels to other parts of the body. The cancer spreads from where it began by getting into the blood. The cancer travels through the blood vessels to other parts of the body.

The cancer gets into the lymph system, travels through the lymph vessels, and forms a tumor metastatic tumor in another part of the body. The cancer gets into the blood, travels through the blood vessels, and forms a tumor metastatic tumor in another part of the body.

Low grade: In low-grade soft tissue sarcoma, the cancer cells look more like normal cells under a microscope and grow and spread more slowly than in mid-grade and high-grade soft tissue sarcoma. Mid grade: In mid-grade soft tissue sarcoma, the cancer cells look more abnormal under a microscope and grow and spread more quickly than in low-grade soft tissue sarcoma.

High grade: In high-grade soft tissue sarcoma, the cancer cells look more abnormal under a microscope and grow and spread more quickly than in low-grade and mid-grade soft tissue sarcoma. In stage IA, the tumor is 5 centimeters or smaller and is low grade or the grade is unknown. In stage IB, the tumor is larger than 5 centimeters and is low grade or the grade is unknown.

In stage IIIA, the tumor is larger than 5 centimeters but not larger than 10 centimeters and is mid grade or high grade. In stage IIIB, the tumor is larger than 10 centimeters and is mid grade or high grade. In stage IIIB, one of the following is found: the tumor is larger than 10 centimeters and is mid grade or high grade ; or the tumor is any size, any grade , and has spread to nearby lymph nodes.

Key Points There are different types of treatment for patients with adult soft tissue sarcoma. Four types of standard treatment are used: Surgery Radiation therapy Chemotherapy Targeted therapy New types of treatment are being tested in clinical trials. Regional chemotherapy Treatment for adult soft tissue sarcoma may cause side effects.

Patients can enter clinical trials before, during, or after starting their cancer treatment. Follow-up tests may be needed. Mohs microsurgery : A procedure in which the tumor is cut from the skin in thin layers. During surgery, the edges of the tumor and each layer of tumor removed are viewed through a microscope to check for cancer cells. Layers continue to be removed until no more cancer cells are seen. This type of surgery removes as little normal tissue as possible and is often used where appearance is important, such as on the skin.

Enlarge Mohs surgery. A surgical procedure to remove a visible lesion on the skin in several steps. First, a thin layer of cancerous tissue is removed. Then, a second thin layer of tissue is removed and viewed under a microscope to check for cancer cells.

More layers are removed one at a time until the tissue viewed under a microscope shows no remaining cancer. This type of surgery is used to remove as little normal tissue as possible. Wide local excision : Removal of the tumor along with some normal tissue around it.

For tumors of the head, neck, abdomen , and trunk , as little normal tissue as possible is removed. Limb-sparing surgery : Removal of the tumor in an arm or leg without amputation , so the use and appearance of the limb is saved. Radiation therapy or chemotherapy may be given first to shrink the tumor.

The tumor is then removed in a wide local excision. Tissue and bone that are removed may be replaced with a graft using tissue and bone taken from another part of the patient's body, or with an implant such as artificial bone. Amputation: Surgery to remove part or all of a limb or appendage , such as an arm or leg. In a biopsy, the doctor takes out a small piece of the lump to check it for cancer cells.

Tests will also be done to find out what type of sarcoma it is. There are different ways to do a biopsy. The type used will depend on the size of the lump and where it is in your body.

Ask your doctor what kind you will need. The cancer cells in the biopsy sample will be given a grade : 1, 2, or This helps doctors predict how fast the cancer is likely to grow and spread. The grade is based on how much the cancer cells look like normal cells. Cells that look very different from normal cells tend to grow faster and are given a higher grade.. Ask the doctor to explain the grade of your cancer. The grade helps the doctor decide which treatment is best for you.

If you have sarcoma, the doctor will want to find out how far it has spread. This is called staging. Your doctor will want to find out the stage of your cancer to help decide what type of treatment is best for you. The stage is based on how much the cancer has grown in the place where it started or spread to other parts of your body.

The grade of the sarcoma see above is also part of the stage. Your cancer can be stage 1, 2, 3, or 4. The lower the number, the less the cancer has spread. A higher number, like stage 4, means a more serious cancer that has spread from where it first started. Ask the doctor about the cancer stage and what it means for you. Surgery is used to take out the tumor and a margin or edge of the healthy tissue around it.

The type of surgery done depends on where the tumor is. Ask your doctor what kind of surgery you will have and what to expect. Any type of surgery can have risks and side effects. Ask the doctor what you can expect. If you have problems, let your doctors know. Doctors who treat soft tissue sarcomas should be able to help you with any problems that come up.