Living with Soft tissue sarcoma
A cancer that starts in the body's soft tissues, such as muscle, fat, blood vessels and nerves.
Understanding Soft tissue sarcoma
Soft tissues connect, support and surround other body parts, and include muscle, fat, blood vessels, nerves and tendons. Many people with early soft tissue sarcoma have no symptoms. Most cases occur with little or no family history.
Signs & symptoms
GARD doesn't list a full symptom list for this condition. Based on its summary, symptoms depend on the tumor's location and size and may include:
- A lump under the skin
- Pain
- Difficulty breathing
Not everyone has every symptom. GARD's list comes from the Human Phenotype Ontology.
Diagnosis
- 1Talk with your doctor
Share the symptoms you've noticed, when they started and your family health history. Notes and photos can help.
- 2See a specialist
Specialists who may be involved include cancer specialists.
- 3Ask which tests can help
Your care team will decide which exams and tests can confirm the diagnosis.
- 4Connect with expert centers
Sarcoma Foundation of America may keep lists of experts for this condition.
Care & treatment
- Care team
- Cancer specialists (oncologists)
- Expert care
- Expert lists: Sarcoma Foundation of America
- Treatment
- GARD doesn't list specific treatments for this condition. Your care team will tailor care to your symptoms.
- Research
- Clinical trials and observational studies may be options. See the research section below.
General information, not medical advice. Your care team makes the decisions.
Everyday life
Living with a rare condition is easier with support.
- Connect with Sarcoma Foundation of America
- Keep notes on symptoms, changes and questions for appointments
- Ask about patient registries that help research
- Look into financial aid and travel resources for care visits
Quick facts
GARD says most cases occur without a family history. Risk is higher after radiation therapy or with certain inherited disorders, such as Gorlin syndrome, Li-Fraumeni syndrome and neurofibromatosis type 1.
Also known as: connective tissue sarcoma; malignant mesenchymal tumor; malignant mesenchymal tumour; non-rhabdo. soft tissue sarcoma; sarcoma of soft tissue; sarcoma of the soft tissue
Patient organizations
- Sarcoma Foundation of AmericaSoft tissue sarcoma · United States
You are more than your diagnosis
Perspectives from people navigating life with Soft tissue sarcoma.
Explore research for Soft tissue sarcoma
Explore actively recruiting Soft tissue sarcoma studies with HealthSpark.
Find actively recruiting studies for Soft tissue sarcoma with HealthSpark. Share your city to explore research near you.
- Recruiting studies from ClinicalTrials.gov
- Share your city to look for research near you
- Eligibility is confirmed by the study team
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Powered by HealthSpark, our AI chat helper · Study information from ClinicalTrials.gov · Eligibility is confirmed by the study team.
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