Cancer is usually caused by gene mutation of the cell. When a cell has the wrong gene mutation, it starts growing infinitely. Due to this error, cells begin to divide rapidly and become uncontrolled. These abnormal cells form a tumor that grows rapidly around and can reach other parts of the body.

The type of Soft Tissue Sarcoma will depend on the type of cell whose gene mutation has taken place. For example, liposarcoma is caused by fat cell mutation, whereas angiosarcoma is caused by blood vessels.

At the beginning of this cancer, the patient does not see any symptoms. As its phase progresses, the following symptoms can appear:

• ● Swelling or knot in the affected area
• ● Pain in the affected area (when tumors create pressure on muscles or nerves).

You should contact the doctor immediately if you notice the following:

• ● If the swelling or size of the knot increases or continues
• ● If the knot recurred after surgery
• ● If the lump is positioned between the muscles

These are some types of Soft Tissue Sarcoma:

• ● Epithelioid sarcoma
• ● Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans
• ● A gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST)
• ● Myxofibrosarcoma
• ● Kaposi’s sarcoma
• ● Malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor
• ● Leiomyosarcoma
• ● Liposarcoma
• ● Angiosarcoma
• ● Undifferentiated (Pleomorphic sarcoma)
• ● Rhabdomyosarcoma
• ● Synovial sarcoma
• ● Solitary fibrous tumor

There are many types of soft tissue sarcoma, so it is necessary to know what kind of sarcoma the patient has; that will help in proper treatment. It can be diagnosed through the following tests:

• ● Imaging test: Some imaging tests that can diagnose Soft Tissue sarcoma include:
• ● Computerized tomography scans
• ● Positron emission tomography
• Magnetic resonance imaging
• ● X-rays
• ● Biopsy: Your doctor can take a sample of the tumor and test it in a lab. There are two types of biopsies that include:
• ● Core needle biopsy: In this biopsy, a small piece of the tumor is taken and examined. The doctor may take samples from each part of the affected tissue.
• ● Surgical biopsy: In this, the doctor performs surgery to remove a large part of the tumor. If the tumor size is small, it can be removed completely.

After taking this sample, pathologists examine it. Causes and types of cancer are detected, and it is also known whether the cancer is aggressive or not.

Treatment of Soft Tissue Sarcoma depends on the cancer type, location, and stage. The treatment options include:

• ● Surgery: Surgery is the most common treatment for cancer. In this, the tumor, along with some healthy tissue surrounding the tumor, is also removed. That reduces the chances of the cancer growing and spreading to other organs.
• ● Radiation therapy: It is used to treat cancer with high-energy beams. Radiation therapy is used to treat soft tissue sarcoma as follows:
• ● Before surgery: The tumor is contracted with the help of radiation to make it easily removable.
• ● During surgery: High amounts of radiation are released into the affected tissue without damaging the surrounding healthy tissue.
• ● After surgery: If some cancer cells remain after surgery, they are destroyed with radiation therapy.
• ● Chemotherapy: It is a type of cancer treatment with the help of drugs. The drugs may be oral or through injection. Chemotherapy reacts well in some types of soft tissue sarcoma, such as rhabdomyosarcoma.

The following factors increase the risk of soft tissue sarcoma:

• ● Inherited syndrome: Soft tissue sarcoma can reach you through the genes of your parents.
• ● Exposure to chemicals: Exposure to chemicals such as herbicides, arsenic, and dioxin can cause soft tissue sarcoma.
• ● Radiation exposure: If you ever undergo radiation therapy, you are at greater risk of developing soft tissue sarcoma.

Stage 4 Soft Tissue Cancer is difficult to treat, but it may be possible in some patients. In this stage, along with removing the tumor through surgery, other cancer areas (metastases) are also removed.

There are many types of sarcoma cancer but, a blood test can diagnose none. An invasive procedure is used to diagnose each type of Sarcoma cancer

It may take several years for cancer to spread. Sometimes, the size of sarcoma cancer does not increase from 1 to 10 years, and then suddenly, it increases promptly.

About 65 percent of patients can survive for five years after sarcoma cancer. If cancer has reached other parts of the body, then only 18 percent of patients can live for five years.

Sarcoma Cancer can recur even after successful surgery. Again, it can grow in the same place or another place. In some rare cases, the patient may have more than one sarcoma. However, it is rare and occurs after a long time.