Overview

Sarcomas are growths which come from primitive cells seen in the human embryo. These cells have the ability to turn into the so-called connective tissues of the body; the tumors are named for the tissue type which they most resemble, e.g. Tumors which resemble bone-producing cells are called osteosarcoma; those looking like fat cells are called liposarcoma.

Many other types of sarcomas have descriptive names because they do not resemble any specific cell type - alveolar soft parts tumor or Phylloides tumors of breast or prostate. Sarcomas can occur in any part of the body and in total, make up less than 1% of all cancers.

Sarcomas are divided into two main groups because of similarities in presentation and treatment:

I. Sarcomas of the bone, bone marrow, and cartilage
II. Soft tissue sarcomas

Each type is discussed in this section, except cancers of the bone marrow (myelomas, leukemias and lymphomas) which are discussed in their own sections. Other cancers not originally arising in bone may spread to bone but are considered under the section dealing with the type of cancer that was first diagnosed - e.g. breast cancer spread or metastasized to bone is discussed under the breast section.

Bone and Cartilage

General Information

 Different types of bone sarcomas appear to favor different age groups - many kinds of    primary bone sarcomas are more common in people under 20 - in particular,    osteosarcoma and Ewing's sarcoma - also known as peripheral neuroectodermal tumors    (PNET)

 Primary bone cancers make up less than one half of one percent of all cancers. It is    more common for other types of cancer to spread to bone

 Bone sarcomas can occur in any bone in the body but commonly involve bones around    he knee and shoulder.

Soft Tissue Sarcomas

General Information

 These tumours form in the soft tissues of the body - that is, the tissues outside the    bones.

 Can occur anywhere in the body

 They occur mostly in two groups: young children and young adults onward.

 Soft tissue sarcomas tend to spread locally, and via the bloodstream to the lungs In    sarcoma patients, it is very important to know whether it has been spread to distant    parts of the body