Sarcoma - Symptoms and Causes

Overview

Sarcoma is a type of cancer that develops in bones and soft tissues of the body. Soft tissues include structures that connect and support other body parts, such as muscles, fat, blood vessels, nerves, tendons, and joint linings.

When cancer begins in these soft tissues, doctors call it soft tissue sarcoma.

Sarcomas come in many different types. They can appear anywhere in the body, making each case unique. The treatment approach varies widely based on:

The specific type of sarcoma
Where it’s located in the body
Individual patient factors

Medical professionals develop personalized treatment plans to address each patient’s specific situation.

Types

Sarcomas come in many forms, depending on where they start in the body. Each type affects different tissues and may require specific treatments.

Some common sarcoma types include:

Angiosarcoma (blood vessel tumors)
Chondrosarcoma (cartilage tumors)
Ewing Sarcoma (bone and soft tissue)
Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor (GIST)
Kaposi Sarcoma (skin tumors)
Leiomyosarcoma (smooth muscle tumors)
Liposarcoma (fat tissue tumors)
Osteosarcoma (bone tumors)
Rhabdomyosarcoma (skeletal muscle tumors)
Synovial Sarcoma (joint tissue tumors)

Other types include dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans, epithelioid sarcoma, and undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma.

Signs and Symptoms

Sarcoma often shows up in several ways. These can appear in both soft tissue and bone sarcomas:

A noticeable lump or swelling – often painless at first and may grow over time.
Pain – can occur if the tumor presses on nerves, muscles, or nearby organs.
Limited mobility or functional problems – especially if the sarcoma is near joints or muscles.
Unexplained weight loss – may happen in advanced stages.
Fatigue – general feeling of tiredness or weakness.

Bone sarcomas (like osteosarcoma or Ewing sarcoma) tend to affect children and young adults more often. Symptoms include:

Bone pain – often worse at night or during activity.
Swelling or tenderness near a bone – especially in the limbs or pelvis.
Fractures – bones may weaken and break more easily.
Difficulty moving a limb or joint stiffness – especially in the arms or legs.

Soft tissue sarcomas can occur anywhere but are most commonly found in the arms, legs, and abdomen.

Abdominal pain or fullness – if the sarcoma is deep within the abdomen.
Constipation, nausea, or vomiting – if abdominal organs are affected.
Bleeding – especially if it occurs in the gastrointestinal or urinary tract.
Breathing difficulties or chest pain – if the tumor presses on the lungs or heart.

When You Should Get Medical Help

If you notice any of these symptoms, don’t wait to get checked. Make an appointment with your healthcare provider right away if something doesn’t feel right. Early detection is important, so it’s better to have concerning symptoms examined promptly.

Causes

Sarcoma develops when cells in bones and soft tissues undergo DNA changes. These alterations disrupt normal cellular instructions that regulate growth, multiplication, and death.

Healthy cells follow specific DNA instructions – growing at controlled rates and dying when appropriate. When DNA mutations occur, these instructions become corrupted.

The affected cells begin multiplying rapidly and avoid the natural death process that typically removes old or damaged cells.

This uncontrolled growth leads to an accumulation of abnormal cells. These cells may form a tumor that can:

Invade surrounding healthy tissue
Damage normal body structures
Eventually break away from the original site

When cancer cells spread to distant parts of the body, doctors call this metastatic cancer. The spreading occurs when cancer cells enter the bloodstream or lymphatic system and travel to new locations.

Scientists haven’t identified the exact trigger for these DNA changes in sarcoma. Unlike some cancers with clear causes, the specific factors leading to sarcoma development remain largely unknown.

Risk Factors

Several factors may increase a person’s chances of developing sarcoma:

Genetic Conditions: Certain inherited syndromes can raise cancer risk, including Li-Fraumeni syndrome, familial retinoblastoma, and neurofibromatosis type 1.
Previous Radiation Treatment: People who received radiation therapy for another cancer have a higher risk of developing sarcoma later in life.
Chronic Lymphedema: This persistent swelling occurs when the lymphatic system is damaged or blocked. It increases the risk of developing angiosarcoma.
Viral Infections: Human herpesvirus 8 can increase the risk of Kaposi sarcoma, particularly in individuals with weakened immune systems.

If you have any of these risk factors, talk with your doctor about possible screening or monitoring options.

Sarcoma – Symptoms and Causes