What does sarcoma cancer look like?

Soft-tissue sarcoma usually looks like a rounded mass beneath the skin surface. The skin is usually unaffected. The mass may be soft or firm. If the mass is deep, the arm or leg may appear larger or fuller than the other side.

Is sarcoma cancer aggressive?

The AIDS-related version of Kaposi sarcoma can be aggressive if it is not treated. It can form sores on the skin, spread to the lymph nodes and sometimes involve the gastrointestinal tract, lungs, heart and other organs.

Is sarcoma a fast growing cancer?

The general characteristics of most sarcomas are that they grow quickly, are located deep within tissue, and are relatively large.

What’s the difference between carcinoma and sarcoma?

The main difference between carcinomas and sarcomas comes down to tissue. A carcinoma forms in the skin or tissue cells that line the body’s internal organs, such as the kidneys and liver. A sarcoma grows in the body’s connective tissue cells, which include fat, blood vessels, nerves, bones, muscles, deep skin tissues and cartilage.

Can sarcoma be cured?

Most people diagnosed with a soft tissue sarcoma are cured by surgery alone, if the tumor is low-grade; that means it is not likely to spread to other parts of the body. More aggressive sarcomas are harder to treat successfully.

How does Sarcoma cancer affect the body?

Sarcomas can cause normal tissue to be moved aside, invade normal tissue or impinge upon blood vessels and nerves. This can cause weakness, numbness and tingling of your arm or leg. Sarcomas can also spread to other areas of your body. Certain types of sarcoma can spread inside your abdomen,…

How is a sarcoma different from carcinoma?

A sarcoma is a rare kind of cancer. Sarcomas are different from the much more common carcinomas because they happen in a different kind of tissue. Sarcomas grow in connective tissue — cells that connect or support other kinds of tissue in your body.