Sarcoma, or soft tissue sarcoma, is a tumor that develops in the
soft tissues of the body. Sarcomas are cancerous (malignant)
tumors. Sarcomas can invade any of the bodyés soft tissues, but
they are most common in the arms and legs. In a few cases,
sarcomas appear in the chest, abdomen, neck, and head. Sarcomas
are treated using surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy.
What causes sarcomas? While some sarcomas, like Kaposiés
sarcoma, have a definite cause (a viral infection), generally
doctors arenét really sure what causes most sarcomas. They think
that they may be due to a combination of genetic and
environmental factors like chemical and radiation exposure. Are
sarcomas serious? Sarcomas are very serious. They can be life-
threatening depending on the organs and tissues they affect. Can
I prevent sarcomas? Leading a healthy lifestyle may help prevent
some sarcomas, but thereés no guarantee that this will protect
you from developing sarcomas. How do I know if my child has a
sarcoma? The first sign of a