Sarcomas
Information by Cancer Type
Accounting for less than one percent of all cancers diagnosed annually, sarcomas are cancers that develop in the soft or connective tissues, including muscles, tendons, fibrous tissues, fat, blood vessels, nerves, and tissues surrounding joints. Presently, there are fewer than 10,000 cases diagnosed each year, with about 10 percent of those occurring in children and adolescents. As a broad category, sarcomas include some easily treated cancers that tend to remain self-contained and others that spread silently and/or rapidly. Approximately 50 percent of all sarcomas appear in the extremities (arms, hands, legs and feet), 40 percent occur in the trunk and retroperitoneal area and 10 percent occur in the head and neck.
The first critical step in treating sarcoma is establishing a precise diagnosis and pinpointing the extent of involvement and spread of the disease (see Staging). The advantage of working with Sutter Health-affiliated cancer centers is having access to the vast experience of hundreds of medical specialists and the latest, most advanced technology for diagnosis and treatment. Consultative Tumor Conferences at the centers provide patients with the expertise of doctors representing multiple specialties. At regularly scheduled meetings, these specialists review individual cases and combine their knowledge and experience to create a personalized treatment plan.
Sutter Cancer Center doctors are also actively involved in research and clinical trials to discover better, more effective approaches to care. By incorporating research into their practices, many doctors provide their patients with access to developing advances. More information about research efforts is available in our Research Studies and Clinical Trials section.
Beyond medical care, Sutter Cancer Centers also support each patient with an array of services, classes and support groups designed to help patients and families deal with the emotional stress of cancer. Information on these programs is available in the Support for Patients and Families section.
For more information, see the soft tissue sarcoma topic in our Health Information section. Additional information is also available from the National Cancer Institute www.cancer.gov and the American Cancer Society www.cancer.org.
