Beyond Local Excision: Treatment Options When Melanoma Has Spread
Melanoma is not the most common type of skin cancer, but it’s the most deadly. The good news is that treatment options are available even if it has spread. Read on to learn more.
Soft Tissue Sarcoma: Recognizing Symptoms and Understanding Treatment
Many types of cancer are easy to understand — breast cancer occurs in the breast, colon cancer in the colon, and so forth. Soft tissue sarcoma can be challenging, given it comes in 70 different types and can grow in various places in the body.
Despite this challenge, it's important to know the signs to look for and, for people who have been diagnosed, to understand the options for treatment.
Dr. Trevan Fischer, an experienced complex general surgical oncologist, can help. At his private practice in Santa Monica, California, he uses state-of-the-art surgical techniques to treat a variety of types of cancer, including soft tissue sarcoma, skin cancer, and more.
In addition, he stays informed of the latest treatment discoveries through his work on leading-edge clinical trials at the Saint John's Cancer Institute.
Soft tissue sarcoma
This type of cancer occurs when a tumor grows in the body's soft tissues, including fat, muscle, blood vessels, tendons, nerves, and joint linings. It can develop anywhere in the body but most frequently appears in the arms, legs, chest, or abdomen.
Symptoms
While soft tissue sarcoma is relatively rare, with a little over 13,500 new cases projected to be diagnosed in the United States in 2025, it is still important to know the symptoms.
Signs depend on the type and location of the sarcoma. Many appear as a new lump or swelling, especially when it's in an arm or leg. It may grow quickly and begin to hurt. Unlike a typical bump from an injury, it does not heal or go away.
Sarcoma inside the body is not visible and, therefore, is more challenging to detect. As it gets larger and affects organs, muscles, nerves, or blood vessels nearby, there may be pain, trouble breathing, nausea, or vomiting. Blood may occur in the vomit or stool, or the stool may appear black and tarry.
Treatment
Treatment depends on the specifics of the sarcoma. Diagnosis is typically made from a combination of blood tests and scans. A biopsy is performed to determine the type, stage, and grade to learn more about the likelihood of fast or slow growth and whether or not it may spread.
Often, a group of doctors work together to create a multidisciplinary treatment plan for the best possible outcome.
In most cases, it begins with surgery to remove the tumor. This is done using techniques that are as minimally invasive as possible. Depending on the situation, additional recommendations may include radiation, chemotherapy, targeted therapy, or immunotherapy.
If you have been diagnosed with soft tissue sarcoma, Dr. Fischer can discuss your surgical options and provide treatment. Click to book an appointment or call the office today at 310-807-2688.
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