The Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute, cancer centers and other organizations across the nation recognize July as Sarcoma Awareness Month. Sarcomas are rare tumors that develop in an individual's soft tissue or bone. There are over 13,500 new cases diagnosed each year in the United States. Karmanos offers an expert team dedicated to diagnosing and treating these uncommon tumors.
Sarcoma Facts and Figures
According to the American Cancer Society (ACS):
- Over 5,000 people in the United States will die from sarcoma in 2024.
- Sarcoma affects mainly children and adolescents, as well as adults under the age of 30.
- The common sarcomas in adults are undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma, liposarcoma and leiomyosarcoma.
Sarcoma Symptoms and Risk Factors
Sarcoma is a type of cancer that starts in tissues like bone or muscle. Bone and soft tissue sarcomas are the main types of sarcoma. Soft tissue sarcomas can develop in fat, muscle, nerves, fibrous tissues, blood vessels, or deep skin tissues.
Patients can develop sarcomas from radiation given to treat other cancers, like breast cancer or lymphoma. However, radiation exposure accounts for less than 5% of sarcomas. In addition, some family cancer syndromes increase a person's risk of developing soft tissue sarcomas. Injury and lifestyle factors such as smoking, diet and exercise are not linked to the risk for soft tissue sarcoma.
Sarcoma Treatment at Karmanos Cancer Institute
At Karmanos, sarcoma is treated by the Sarcoma Oncology Multidisciplinary Team, which includes surgical oncologists, medical oncologists, radiologists, pathologists, pharmacists, dietitians, social workers, and genetic counselors. The team focuses entirely on treating sarcoma malignancies and shares its collective expertise to create a customized treatment plan for each patient.
Our team of sarcoma oncology specialists is among the best in the world. Collectively, they design and conduct clinical trials and translational research and contribute to publications on the surgical and medical management of these malignancies.
To schedule an appointment with the Sarcoma Oncology Multidisciplinary Team at Karmanos, click here.