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.
Wide local excision (WLE)
Removal of the tumor and some healthy tissue around the tumor.
Radical resection
Removal of abdominal or retroperitoneal tumors with adjacent tissue and
organs when necessary.
Limb-sparing surgery
Removal of the soft tissue tumor in the arm or leg. This also may require
reconstruction surgery, using a graft of the patient’s healthy tissue
or artificial materials, to replace tissue removed during surgery and
result in a better functional outcome.
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.