Soft tissue sarcoma is a rare type of cancer that begins in the tissues that connect, support and surround other body structures. This includes muscle, fat, blood vessels, nerves, tendons and the lining of your joints. More than 50 subtypes of soft tissue sarcoma exist. Some types are more likely to affect children, while others affect mostly adults. These tumors can be difficult to diagnose because they may be mistaken for many other types of growths.
Soft tissue sarcoma can occur anywhere in your body, but the most common types occur in the arms and legs, and in the abdomen. Surgical removal is the most common treatment, although radiation and chemotherapy also may be recommended — depending on the size, type, location and aggressiveness of the tumor.

About half of soft tissue sarcomas start in an arm or leg. Most people notice a lump that's grown over time (weeks to months). The lump may or may not hurt. When sarcomas grow in the back of the abdomen (the retroperitoneum), the symptoms often come from other problems the tumor is causing. For instance, they may cause blockage or bleeding of the stomach or bowels. They can press on nerves, blood vessels, or nearby organs. They can grow large enough for the tumor to be felt in the belly. Sometimes the tumors cause pain. About 4 of 10 sarcomas begin in the abdomen (belly). If you have any of the these problems, see a doctor right away:
1) A new lump or a lump that's growing (anywhere on your body)
2) Abdominal pain that's getting worse
3) Blood in your stool or vomit
4) Black, tarry stools (when bleeding happens in the stomach or bowels, the blood can turn black as it's digested, and it might make the stool very black and sticky)

These are the known risk factors for soft tissue sarcoma
1) Radiation exposure
People who have had high-dose radiation to treat other cancers, such as breast or cervical cancer, have a slightly higher risk of developing a soft tissue sarcoma. In general, routine X-rays and diagnostic tests do not put people at a higher risk of soft tissue sarcoma.
2) Damaged lymph system or lymphedema
Chronic lymphedema (where fluid collects in the tissue and causes swelling) after radiation to lymph nodes, or surgical removal of lymph nodes is also a risk factor.
3) Exposure to chemicals
People who have worked with or have been around certain chemicals may be at greater risk of developing soft tissue sarcoma. It is not known for certain, but it is thought that high exposure to herbicides, as well as the chemical dioxin and chlorophenols, may increase the risk.
4) Family history
If someone in your family has certain diseases, you may be more at risk for developing a soft tissue sarcoma. If you have many family members who have had sarcoma or other cancers at a young age, ask your doctor about genetic testing to see if you are at greater risk for developing a sarcoma. You may have inherited a gene that is defective if anyone in your family had one of these diseases.
5) Neurofibromatosis
This disease runs in families. In this disease, noncancerous tumors form in the nerves under the skin and in other parts of the body. About five percent of people with these tumors get malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors (cancer in nerve coverings). Learn more about neurofibromatosis.
6) Li-Fraumeni syndrome
This disease runs in families. It increases a person's chance of getting breast cancer, brain tumors, leukemias, and sarcomas. Learn more about Li-Fraumeni syndrome.
7) Retinoblastoma
This eye cancer, found in children, may run in families. Children who have been cured of this form of eye cancer may be at a slightly greater risk of developing soft tissue sarcomas later in life.

The most common soft tissue sarcomas are leiomyocarcoma and liposarcomas. Other types of soft tissue sarcomas are listed below:
1) Common soft tissue sarcomas
● Leiomyosarcoma
These cancer cells look like smooth muscle cells. They are often found in the abdomen and uterus, but are also found in the leg and arm muscles.
● Liposarcoma
These cancer cells look like fat cells. Although they can be found anywhere in the body, they usually start in the abdomen or thighs.
● Angiosarcoma
This is a rare form of soft tissue sarcoma that arises from blood vessels or lymph vessels.
● Synovial sarcoma
This is cancer of the synovial tissue. Synovial tissue surrounds joints, and includes tendons and bursae. Bursae are the fluid-filled, cushioning sacs found between tendons, ligaments, and bones.
● Rhabdomyosarcoma
These are cancers that arise from skeletal muscle. Rhabdomyosarcomas most frequently occur in the arms and legs, but can also originate in other areas. This cancer is more common in children than adults.

2) Malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor
This cancer is also known as neurofibrosarcoma or malignant schwannoma. It is cancer of the cells that wrap around nerves. This tumor is rare but may be seen in people with other genetic problems, such as neurofibromatosis.This cancer is also known as neurofibrosarcoma or malignant schwannoma. It is cancer of the cells that wrap around nerves. This tumor is rare but may be seen in people with other genetic problems, such as neurofibromatosis.
● Spindle cell sarcoma
These cancers look like the fibrous tissue of tendons and ligaments. They are usually found in the leg, arm, or the torso (the area between the shoulders and hips).
● Ewing's sarcoma
This cancer is closely related to another kind of tumor known as a small blue cell tumor or a peripheral neuroectodermal tumor. Ewing's sarcoma is a tumor of young cells. It can start in almost any tissue of the body, including soft tissue and bone. This type of tumor is more common in children. Learn more about Ewing's sarcoma.
● Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST)
These can occur anywhere along the length of the digestive tract. Learn more about GIST.

If you have signs or symptoms that suggest you might have a soft tissue sarcoma , the doctor will likely need to do tests to find out if you have cancer.
1) Medical history and physical exam
Doctor will ask about your medical history, including your family history, to learn if you have any possible risk factors. You will also be asked about your symptoms, such as when they started and how long you’ve had them.
2) Imaging tests
Imaging tests use sound waves, x-rays, magnetic fields, or radioactive substances to create pictures of the inside of your body. Imaging tests may be done for a number of reasons, such as:
a) To look at suspicious areas that might be cancer
b) To see if, and how far, cancer has spread
c) To help determine if treatment is working
3) Plain x-ray
A regular x-ray of the area with the lump may be the first test ordered. A chest x-ray may be done after you are diagnosed to see if the sarcoma has spread to the lungs.
4) CT (computed tomography) scans
A CT scan uses x-rays to make detailed cross-sectional images of your body. This test is often done if the doctor suspects a soft tissue sarcoma in the chest, abdomen (belly), or the retroperitoneum (the back of the abdomen). This test is also used to see if the sarcoma has spread to the lungs, liver, or other organs.
5) MRI (magnetic resonance imaging)
MRI uses radio waves and strong magnets instead of x-rays to take pictures of the body. MRI scans are often part of the work-up of any tumor that could be a sarcoma. They're often better than CT scans in evaluating sarcomas in the arms or legs.
6) Ultrasound
Ultrasound uses sound waves and their echoes to produce pictures of parts of the body. A small instrument called a transducer sends out sound waves and picks up the echoes as they bounce off the organs. A computer then converts the echoes into an image on a screen.
7) PET (positron emission tomography) scan
PET scans use a form of radioactive sugar that's put into the blood. Because cancers use glucose (sugar) at a higher rate than normal tissues, the radioactivity collects in the cancer. A scanner can then spot the radioactive deposits.
8) Biopsy
If a soft tissue sarcoma is suspected based on exams and imaging tests, a biopsy is needed to know for sure that it's a sarcoma and not another type of cancer or a benign (not cancer) disease. In a biopsy, the doctor takes out a small piece of the tumor. This tissue is looked at under a microscope and other lab tests may be done as well.

5-year relative survival rates for soft tissue sarcoma:
1) Localized: 81% The cancer is limited to the part of the body where it started.
2) Regional: 56% The cancer has spread to nearby structures or nearby lymph nodes.
3) Distant: 15% The cancer has spread to distant parts of the body such as the lungs.

Cancer is a life threatening disease that can affect anyone regardless of race, age, and gender. Traditional cancer treatments like radiotherapy and chemotherapy often result in undesirable and uncomfortable side effects such as vomiting, numbness, nausea, and diarrhea to name a few. Herbal medicine is a complementary therapy that some people with cancer use to ease cancer symptoms. Herbal remedies for cancer such as those commonly found in traditional medicine contains antimutagenic, anti-inflammatory, and apoptosis inducing compounds that help in slowing the development of cancer and relieve treatment side effects for patients.

Herbal medicine has a wide variety of applications but all of them rely on the sustainable use of various plant parts such as flowers, leaves, bark, and roots. Each part of a plant features different medicinal properties and uses. Although herbal medicine has countless use cases, cancer care is one of the most practical applications because of how harsh traditional oncology treatments can be on patients.

Herbal remedies are a part of a growing field of medicine called integrative oncology. Research conducted on the use of herbal medicine for cancer complementary therapy has proven herbs can:
• Slows the spread of cancer
• Reduces the side effects of cancer treatment
• Boosts immune system strength and functionality
• Minimizes the symptoms of cancer
• Attacks cancer cells

Several herbs may help control the side effects of conventional cancer treatment. However, doctors do not recommend that cancer patients take herbal medicine while undergoing normal traditional cancer treatment. Herbal medicines may be likely less to cause side effects than traditional drugs. But patients may can still experience complications. Some herbs may can cause negative interactions with chemotherapy drugs. Closely monitor how you feel before and after taking herbal remedies. Patients should always consult with their doctor before trying herbs as a complementary therapy or the supplements to avoid complications.