Soft Tissue Sarcomas

Soft tissue sarcoma (STS) is cancer that forms in the soft tissue of the body. Soft tissue connects, supports, or surrounds other body parts. There are many different types of sarcomas, but the majority occur in the extremities or in the posterior abdomen known as the retroperitoneum. Our sarcoma experts treat complex sarcoma cases, including large tumors, metastatic cancer, and recurrent sarcoma.

Treatments

Surgery remains the main treatment for soft tissue sarcoma that has not spread (metastasized). Our surgical oncologists are trained to remove the entire tumor with surrounding tissue and organs and limit the likelihood of it returning. We are able to preserve limbs (prevent amputation) in the majority of extremity sarcomas. Where there may be more advanced tumors, our multidisciplinary team may recommend other treatments in addition to surgery, such as chemotherapy or radiation therapy, or a combination of these modalities. The location, type, and stage of a sarcoma determines how it can be treated effectively.

We also maximize the effectiveness of surgery by treating some sarcomas with radiation or chemotherapy. This can be used before surgery to shrink the tumor to make it easier to remove the cancer entirely or given after surgery to kill any remaining cancer cells. Chemotherapy also may be used to help kill cancer that has spread to the lungs where sarcomas typically metastasize. Other modalities—such as intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) and brachytherapy—are cutting-edge radiation techniques available at Jupiter Medical Center that require a highly skilled and coordinated team of surgical oncologists and radiation oncologists to optimize surgical planning.