Can soft tissue be cancerous?

Can soft tissue be cancerous?

Soft tissue sarcomas are cancerous (malignant) tumors that originate in the soft tissues of your body. This illustration shows a soft tissue sarcoma of the thigh muscle just above the knee. Soft tissue sarcoma is a rare type of cancer that begins in the tissues that connect, support and surround other body structures.

Can radiation cause soft tissue sarcomas?

Summary. In summary, radiation exposure remains one of the few established risk factors for both bone and soft tissue sarcomas. Similar to many other cancers children have the highest risks of developing a radiation-related sarcoma.

How does radiation leave the body?

The radioactive material leaves the body through saliva, sweat, and urine. These fluids are radioactive and people in close contact with the patient should take the safety measures recommended by the health care team. An example of this is radioactive iodine therapy (RAI; I-131) for thyroid cancer.

What happens to tissue after radiation?

Almost all chronic radiation complications result from scarring and narrowing of the blood vessels within the area which has received treatment. If this process progresses to the point that the normal tissues are no longer receiving an adequate blood supply, death or necrosis of these tissues can occur.

Does sarcoma respond to radiation?

Radiation can be the main treatment for sarcoma in someone who isn’t healthy enough to have surgery. Radiation therapy can also be used to help ease symptoms of sarcoma when it has spread.

Which is the most common soft tissue sarcoma in children?

Rhabdomyosarcoma is the most common childhood soft tissue sarcoma in children 14 years and younger. (See the PDQ summary on Childhood Rhabdomyosarcoma Treatment for more information.)

How long does dry mouth last after radiation?

Radiation therapy to the head, face, or neck can cause dry mouth. It can take 6 months or longer after radiation therapy ends for the salivary glands to start producing saliva again. Dry mouth often improves during the first year after radiation treatment.