Sarcoma Frequently Asked Questions

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What is a sarcoma? 

A sarcoma is a tumor of your connective tissue including muscle, fat, bone, blood vessels, cartilage and other connective tissues.

Is a sarcoma different from other cancers?

The most common cancers are carcinomas and include breast, prostate, lung, and colon cancer. Cancers of the blood and immune system are are leukemias and lymphomas. These are different cancers from sarcomas.

How do people get sarcomas?

It is unclear how most sarcomas arise. Some patients can have a familial syndrome that can lead to a sarcoma, but these are rare cases.

How do you treat sarcomas?

Sarcomas are cared for by teams of doctors. At UCLA, we have a group of surgeons, pathologists, medical oncologists, radiation oncologists and radiologists who take care of sarcoma patients.

What are the available sarcoma treatment options?

Sarcomas are cared for by teams of doctors. At UCLA, we have a group of surgeons, pathologists, medical oncologists, radiation oncologists and radiologists who take care of sarcoma patients.

What are common sarcoma symptoms?

Symptoms of a sarcoma can include bone pain, abdominal pain, weight loss, a lump that can be felt through the skin, and a broken bone that happens unexpectedly (for example, with only a minor injury).