Sarcomas: surgery and additional treatments

• The tumor itself must not be opened, or the cancerous cells may spread
• The size of the margin of healthy tissue removed with the tumor must be adjusted to each case
• Functions (joints, muscles, organs) must be preserved as far as possible
• Reconstruction may be necessary
• Surgery may involve several organs and is to be performed in a single block.

Sarcomas: additional treatments

The medical team may decide on chemotherapy and radiotherapy before and/or after surgery, if:

• The sarcoma is very abnormal, large and deep
• The sarcoma is not operable in its current state
• The sarcoma is likely to metastasize
• The procedure poses a risk of mutilation

This decision is made according to the age of the patient, his/her state of health, and the severity and location of the tumor. In rare cases (a tumor cannot be removed, a patient’s state of health precludes surgery), radiotherapy may be offered instead of surgery.

Intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) is a high-precision technique used when the sarcoma is close to certain organs, such as those in the abdomen, in order to preserve their integrity and function, and for bone sarcomas, to reduce the risk of fracture.

Treatment of any sarcoma metastases involves chemotherapy, surgery, radiofrequency and/or radiotherapy.

The search for treatments for sarcoma metastases is progressing rapidly. Therefore, an oncologist from a sarcoma reference center may offer his/her patient participation in a clinical trial to benefit from the most innovative therapeutic solutions.