Support, clarity and expert care when you need it most
Hearing the word “sarcoma” can feel frightening and confusing. Soft tissue sarcoma is rare, but you don’t have to navigate it alone. At Marshfield Clinic, our specialists provide clear explanations, leading-edge treatment options and compassionate support, helping you move forward with confidence at every step.
Soft tissue sarcoma begins in the body’s connective tissues, such as muscle, fat, blood vessels, nerves or tendons, and can develop almost anywhere in the body.
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Types of soft tissue sarcoma we treat
There are more than 50 types of soft tissue sarcoma, each arising from different connective tissues. Your care team will identify the exact sarcoma type through imaging and biopsy, which guides your personalized treatment plan.
Common types include:
- Liposarcoma: Begins in fatty tissue
- Rhabdomyosarcoma: Begins in skeletal muscle tissue
- Undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma: No clearly identifiable tissue type
- Gastrointestinal stromal tumors: Begins in the stomach or small intestine
- Leiomyosarcoma: Begins in smooth muscle tissue
- Malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors (MPNST): Begins in nerve-related tissue
- Angiosarcoma: Begins in blood or lymph vessels and associated with lymphedema or prior radiation
Risk factors
If you’re concerned about your personal risk, a Marshfield Clinic cancer specialist can help you understand whether evaluation or genetic counseling is right for you. Soft tissue sarcomas are rare, and most people have no identifiable risk factors. However, known risks include:
- Inherited genetic syndromes: Certain genetic conditions increase sarcoma risk, including Li-Fraumeni syndrome, neurofibromatosis type 1, Gardner syndrome, tuberous sclerosis and Werner syndrome
- Previous radiation therapy: Radiation treatment for another cancer can raise the risk of developing sarcoma years later
- Chemical exposures: Exposure to chemicals such as vinyl chloride used in plastic manufacturing and some herbicides and preservatives used in the farming and forestry industries
- Chronic lymphedema: Long-term swelling from lymphatic damage increases the risk of lymphangiosarcoma
- Age: Soft tissue sarcoma can occur at any age but becomes more common in older adults depending on the subtype
Signs and symptoms
Many soft tissue sarcomas don’t cause symptoms early, making them difficult to detect. Any lump that’s growing, painful or persistent should be evaluated. Early diagnosis can expand treatment options and improve outcomes. Symptoms vary based on the location and size of the tumor.
Common symptoms:
- A lump or swelling that grows over time and may hurt
- Pain in an arm or leg or pain in the belly or back
- Unexplained weight loss
- Trouble moving an arm or leg
Treatments
Your treatment plan is based on the tumor size, location, subtype, grade and whether it has spread, along with your overall health. Soft tissue sarcoma care at Marshfield Clinic brings together surgical, medical and radiation oncology experts to create an individualized treatment plan for you.
Surgery
Surgery is the main treatment for most soft tissue sarcomas. Surgeons aim to remove the tumor and a margin of healthy tissue to ensure all cancer cells are removed. Larger or more complex tumors may require a combination of surgery and other treatment methods.
Radiation therapy
Radiation uses high-energy beams to destroy cancer cells. It can be used before surgery to shrink tumors, after surgery to reduce recurrence risk or as a standalone treatment when surgery isn’t possible. Techniques include:
- External Beam Radiation Therapy (EBRT): Radiation is directed at the cancer from outside the body
- Internal Radiation Therapy (Brachytherapy): Radiation is directed at the cancer from inside the body or from implantation of radioactive seeds
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy circulates through the bloodstream to attack cancer cells, including those that may have spread. It may be used before or after surgery or for advanced disease.
Targeted therapies and immunotherapy
Some sarcomas may benefit from additional therapies based on he cancer’s subtype and genetic structure. Targeted therapies block genetic changes that can help tumors grow. Immunotherapies help your body’s immune system attack and kill cancer cells.
Clinical Trials
Clinical trials are research studies that test new ways to treat cancer. The Marshfield Clinic Research Institute has over 100 cancer related clinical trials. Ask your care team if there is a clinical trial right for you.