What is Sarcoma Cancer
Sarcomas are rare and complex cancers that can develop from bone, cartilage, or soft tissues such as fat, muscle, nerves, connective tissue, or blood vessels. Because bone and soft tissues can be found nearly everywhere in the body, a sarcoma can start developing in any part of the body.
Sarcoma affects an increasing number of people in Aotearoa New Zealand, with more than 360 diagnosed with sarcoma in 2025.
Who can be affected by Sarcoma Cancer
There are a few things that can increase the risk of sarcoma including:
- Rare genetic conditions (such as Neurofibromatosis or Li-Fraumeni syndrome) may increase your risk of sarcoma.
- Previous radiotherapy treatment. This is rare but some people who have had radiation for another type of cancer may develop a sarcoma many years later.
- Age. Although people can get sarcoma at any age, the risk increases as we age.
What are the risk factors for Sarcoma Cancer
Most sarcomas do not have a known cause, although there are several factors that could increase a person’s risk of developing one. The most common sarcoma risk factors include the following:
- History of radiation therapy. People who have received radiation therapy for previous cancers may have a higher risk of developing a sarcoma.
- Genetic disorders. People with a family history of inherited disorders, such as Von Recklinghausen’s disease (neurofibromatosis), Gardner syndrome, Werner syndrome, tuberous sclerosis, nevoid basal cell carcinoma syndrome, Li-Fraumeni syndrome or retinoblastoma, have a higher risk of developing a sarcoma.
- Chemical exposure. Exposure to vinyl chloride monomer (a substance used to make some types of plastics), dioxin or arsenic may increase the risk of sarcoma. However, most sarcomas are not known to be associated with specific environmental hazards.
- Long-term swelling. Having lymphedema, or swelling, in the arms or legs for a long time can increase the risk of developing a sarcoma
What are the signs and symptoms of Sarcoma Cancer
The symptoms for sarcoma cancer can vary depending on where it occurs in the body.
The most common sign for soft tissue sarcoma is a lump under the skin or near a joint. It is usually solid to the touch, painless and hard to move around under the skin. As it continues to grow it can become painful.
If sarcoma develops in a bone (which is rarer than a soft tissue sarcoma) signs can include:
- swelling, pain, stiffness or tenderness in or over a bone or joint
- fever for no known reason, and/or pain, swelling or a lump in the arms, legs, chest, back or pelvis – the lump is often soft and feels warm
- a bone that breaks for no known reason.
There are several other conditions that may cause these symptoms, not just sarcoma. If you have any of these symptoms, please discuss them with your doctor.
Diagnosis of Sarcoma Cancer
When you see your doctor/GP they may book you in for blood tests, scans such as an ultrasound, CT scan or MRI scan.
A specialist may also recommend collecting a small sample of cells from any lump using a needle (called a biopsy).
What treatments are aviliable for Sarcoma Cancer
If you are diagnosed with a sarcoma, you will be referred to a sarcoma specialist team who will discuss treatment options with you and your whānau. Treatment may include any of the following:
- Surgery
- Radiotherapy which uses high-energy radiation beams to destroy cancer cells. It can be before or after surgery. When used before surgery it aims to reduce the size of the tumour so it can be operated on and removed.
- Chemotherapy which uses anti-cancer drugs to destroy cancer cells. Its main use is in treating bone sarcomas, usually before or after surgery. Not all soft tissue sarcomas respond well to this type of treatment.
The treatment team may involve an oncologist (cancer doctor), surgeon, radiologist, and a clinical nurse specialist.