Soft Tissue Cancer: Definition and Treatment Options

Soft Tissue Cancer

Soft tissue cancer is a type of cancer that begins and spreads in soft tissues of the body, including muscles, fats, joints, nerves, and blood vessels. This cancer can significantly affect quality of life and pose vital risks if not diagnosed early. Understanding soft tissue cancer will help you comprehend the causes, symptoms, and treatment options of the disease. In this article we have prepared for you, we will attempt to answer all your questions about soft tissue cancer.

What is Soft Tissue Cancer?

Soft tissue cancer is a type of cancer that begins and spreads in the soft tissues of the body. Soft tissues include muscles, fats, joints, nerves, and blood vessels. Soft tissue cancer is less common compared to other cancer types and can occur in all age groups. Among the most common types of soft tissue cancer are liposarcoma, leiomyosarcoma, rhabdomyosarcoma, and nerve sheath tumors (schwannoma).

What Causes Soft Tissue Cancer?

Although the exact cause of soft tissue cancer is unknown, certain risk factors may contribute to the development of the disease. Genetic factors, exposure to radiation, contact with certain chemicals, and immune system-related diseases can increase the risk of soft tissue cancer. However, most cases of soft tissue cancer occur without a specific identifiable cause.

What are the Symptoms of Soft Tissue Cancer?

The symptoms of soft tissue cancer may vary depending on the type, size, and location of the cancer. The most common symptom of soft tissue cancer is a painless lump or mass in the affected area. This mass may grow over time and press on surrounding tissues, causing pain. Other symptoms include swelling, redness, restricted movement, and numbness or weakness due to nerve compression.

In cases of suspected soft tissue cancer, doctors can make a diagnosis using physical examination, imaging tests (X-ray, MRI, CT), and biopsy. Treatment options include surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy. With early diagnosis and appropriate treatment, soft tissue cancer can be successfully controlled and patients' quality of life can be significantly improved.

What are the Types of Soft Tissue Cancer (Sarcoma)?

Soft tissue cancer, also called sarcoma, is a rare cancer type with more than 50 variants. Some types of soft tissue cancer can be explained as follows;

Liposarcoma; Liposarcoma is the most common type of soft tissue cancer originating from fat cells. It is usually seen in adults and most frequently occurs in the abdominal cavity, legs, and arms.

Rhabdomyosarcoma; Rhabdomyosarcoma is a type of soft tissue cancer that develops in skeletal muscles. It is more common in children and young adults and can occur in different areas of the body such as the head, neck, reproductive organs, and urinary tract.

Ewing Sarcoma; Ewing sarcoma is an aggressive type of cancer that usually occurs in bones and is rarely seen in soft tissues. It is more commonly encountered in children and young adults.

Nerve Sheath Tumors; Nerve sheath tumors are soft tissue cancers that begin in the supporting tissues of nerves. They are also called schwannoma and neurofibrosarcoma. These tumors can develop under the skin and in the arms, legs, and trunk.

Angiosarcoma; Angiosarcoma is a type of soft tissue cancer that begins in blood vessels or lymphatic vessels. It can be seen in different areas of the body such as the skin, breast, liver, and spleen.

Chondrosarcoma; Chondrosarcoma is a type of cancer that develops from cartilage cells. Although it usually occurs in bones, it can rarely be seen in soft tissues.

How is Soft Tissue Cancer Diagnosed?

Doctors can use the following methods to diagnose soft tissue cancer;

• Physical Examination

• Imaging Tests

• Biopsy

• Staging

• Genetic Tests

After soft tissue cancer is diagnosed, doctors take into account the patient's age, cancer stage, type, and overall health status to develop the most appropriate treatment plan. Treatment options include surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and targeted therapies.

What is Done in Soft Tissue Cancer Treatment?

Soft tissue cancer is a type of cancer that begins in supporting tissues of the body such as muscles, nerves, fat tissue, and blood vessels. Although the incidence of this cancer type is low, the treatment process is quite important. Soft tissue cancer treatment may vary depending on the patient's age, cancer stage, type, and location. The methods that can be applied in soft tissue cancer treatment are explained as follows;

Surgery is the most frequently used method in soft tissue cancer treatment. Removal of the tumor and surrounding healthy tissues prevents the spread of cancer. If cancerous cells are located in the arms and legs, limb-sparing surgery can be applied to preserve the extremities. With this method, the patient's functional capacity is preserved and quality of life is improved.

Radiation therapy in soft tissue cancer treatment can be applied before or after surgery. Radiation therapy damages the DNA of cancer cells, preventing their growth and reproduction. This treatment method helps to reduce tumor size and eliminate remaining cancer cells after surgery.

In advanced stages of soft tissue cancer or in cases of metastasis, chemotherapy can be used. Chemotherapy drugs prevent cancer cell growth and reproduction, attempting to stop the spread of the disease. This treatment helps to destroy cancer cells and reduce tumor size.

In soft tissue cancer treatment, targeted therapies are applied using drugs designed according to the specific characteristics of cancer cells. These drugs act on molecular targets that prevent cancer cell growth and spread. Targeted therapies are preferred because they have fewer side effects than chemotherapy.

In soft tissue cancer treatment, immunotherapy attempts to stop disease progression by using the body's immune system against cancer cells. This treatment method can be particularly effective in metastatic soft tissue cancers.

Is Soft Tissue Cancer Dangerous?

Soft tissue cancer can be successfully treated with early diagnosis and correct treatment methods. However, soft tissue cancer can be dangerous because;

• If left untreated, cancer cells can spread to surrounding tissues and organs. This situation causes disease progression and makes it more difficult to treat.

• Soft tissue cancer can occur in any area of the body and some types can be more aggressive. Therefore, early diagnosis and treatment process are of great importance.

• The treatment methods used during the treatment process can affect the patient's quality of life. In particular, treatments such as surgery and chemotherapy can be challenging for patients due to side effects and complications.

Soft Tissue Cancer Treatment Costs in Turkey

Turkey has managed to gain international recognition through its investments and efforts in healthcare. Particularly, the latest technological equipment used in diagnostic and treatment procedures has brought hope to many diseases. Nevertheless, there has been an increase in medical tourism to Turkey.

• Large, clean, spacious hospitals fully equipped with technological devices,

• Turkish doctors who are specialist, successful, and talented in their fields,

• Friendly and compassionate nurses and healthcare assistants,

• Quick and accurate answers to questions asked,

• Patient, understanding, and helpful staff, including the intermediary company dealing with the patient,

• Turkey offering natural and historical beauties with vacation opportunities,

• Easy accessibility,

• Affordable costs for diagnostic, treatment, accommodation, food, beverage, clothing, and vacation needs,

are listed among the reasons for preference. We can see that patients and their relatives wishing to come to Turkey for Soft Tissue Cancer Treatment are researching treatment costs in Turkey. However, at this stage, it would not be appropriate to provide exact price information. Many factors such as the type of disease, stage, diagnostic process, treatment process, and length of stay in Turkey affect the cost. If you would like to obtain more detailed price information, you can contact us. Additionally, if you come to Turkey for treatment through our intermediation, we can facilitate your visa application procedures with an invitation letter sent by us to the consulate.