Sarcoma is a rare form of cancer. Though there are many types that have been identified, they are typically separated into two groups: soft tissue sarcoma and bone sarcoma, also called osteosarcoma. Soft tissue cancer begins in areas such as the muscle, fat, connective tissue or blood vessels, while bone cancer forms in the bones.

Sarcoma: What you need to know

• Though there are no known causes for most sarcomas, some risk factors may increase the chances of developing these types of cancer, such as previous radiation therapy treatment, exposure to toxic chemicals or family history.
• Symptoms vary widely depending on the type of sarcoma and its location. Some common symptoms may include a lump under the skin, bone pain, difficulty breathing or chest pain.
• If the sarcoma has not spread to other areas in the body, the treatment plan may involve surgery, radiation and chemotherapy.
• If the sarcoma is advanced, the primary goal of the treatment plan is to offer the patient the best possible quality of life. This may require the use of individual or combined treatment methods.

Why choose UF Health Jacksonville?

• At the UF Health Cancer Center in Jacksonville, we have physicians with expertise in diagnosing, treating and managing various sarcomas of the soft tissue and bones.

• These accomplished specialists work as part of a multidisciplinary team of radiologists, pathologists, orthopaedic surgeons, radiation oncologists and medical oncologists all focused on developing the most advanced treatment therapies to provide you with the best possible outcomes.

• In addition to offering standard cancer treatment options, the UF Health Proton Therapy Institute on the UF Health Jacksonville campus offers patients advanced treatment with minimal side effects. Proton therapy, which has proven to be very effective in fighting cancers, can reduce the body dose of radiation more than 40% compared with standard radiation therapy.