"Diagnosing Soft Tissue Sarcoma- What Doctors Look For" - Lauren Gelman
Soft tissue sarcoma—a type of cancer that forms from soft tissues (muscles, tendons, nerves, and blood vessels)—is rare, and in most cases the cause is unknown. However, there are certain factors that may increase your risk of developing soft tissue sarcoma. Soft tissue sarcoma often presents as a mass (it can be as large as golf ball-sized; approximately 5 cm), and more often than not, is painless. “It’s not that pain alerts them to that part of the body. If they notice something either in the mirror or the shower, and they follow that over time and notice that it’s getting slightly bigger, that usually prompts a doctor’s visit,” said Richard Bakst, MD, assistant professor of radiation oncology at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. Getting a soft tissue sarcoma diagnosis in undoubtedly frightening—but first off, know that you can fight it. “We take the diagnosis very seriously,” said Dr. Bakst. After being diagnosed, it’s important that patients know their soft tissue sarcoma treatment options, so they can work with their doctor to find the best treatment course for their disease.
- Richard Bakst, MD, Assistant Professor, Radiation Oncology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai