The term, Sarcoma, comes from a Greek word meaning "fleshy
growth". It is a general class of uncommon cancers* arising in
connective tissues. Connective tissues include fat, muscle,
blood vessels, deep skin tissues, nerves, bones and cartilage.
They are subdivided into two main categories: soft-tissue
sarcomas (such as leiomyosarcoma) and non soft-tissue sarcomas
(such as the bone cancer, osteosarcoma). Ewing's bone sarcoma
contains both soft-tissue and non soft-tissue elements. There
are over 50 subtypes of sarcoma. How rare is rare? About 1% of
all adult cancers are sarcomas and between 15-20% of all
children's cancers are sarcomas. There are hundreds of thousands
of patients and families struggling with sarcoma worldwide. More
statistics here. Why are sarcomas dangerous? They are hard to
diagnose, hard to detect and hard to treat. Biopsy is the only
diagnostic tool and surgery often the only curative treatment.
Many sarcomas resist current cancer treatments. How can I help?
Patients do not get to choose wh