Metastatic (stage 4) sarcoma

Descripción general

Metastatic sarcoma is sarcoma that has spread from where it started to another part of the body. For many cancers, metastatic cancer also is called stage 4 cancer.

Metastasis is the medical term for disease that spreads to an area away from where it started. When cancer spreads, healthcare professionals say it metastasizes or is metastatic.

Sarcoma is a rare type of cancer that starts in the bones or the soft tissues. When sarcoma spreads, the cancer is still named for where it started, not for where it spread.

How long it takes sarcoma to spread varies greatly by subtype, grade and other tumor characteristics. Some sarcomas can spread years after they initially develop.

Metastatic sarcoma is a serious condition, but what it means for you depends on the type of sarcoma and other factors. Treatment for stage 4 sarcoma may include chemotherapy, surgery, targeted therapy, immunotherapy or radiation.

When sarcoma is advanced and has spread to other organs, it typically can't be cured. But treatment can help control the cancer and lessen symptoms. Treatments may extend your life and help you to live as well as possible, for as long as possible.

Síntomas

Sometimes metastatic sarcoma doesn't cause symptoms. Some people may have no symptoms for months or years. When symptoms happen, they can vary based on the type of tumor and the size of the tumors.

Symptoms of metastatic sarcoma also may differ depending on where the cancer spreads. Symptoms may include:

• Shortness of breath, cough or chest pain if the cancer has spread to the lungs.
• Bone pain or a broken bone if the cancer has spread to a bone after starting in another place.
• Headache, seizures, changes in vision or dizziness if the cancer has spread to the brain.
• Yellowing of the skin or whites of the eyes, called jaundice, or swelling in the stomach area if the cancer has spread to the liver.

Symptoms also may come from where the sarcoma first started. For example, pain and swelling are common symptoms of osteosarcoma. Osteosarcoma is a kind of cancer that begins in the cells that form bones.

When to seek care

If you have symptoms that last a long time or make you feel worried, schedule an appointment with a doctor or other healthcare professional. If you've been treated for cancer in the past, tell your healthcare team about your medical history and any symptoms that concern you.

New symptoms or symptoms that get worse can mean that cancer has spread. Pain that doesn't have a clear cause could be a sign of something serious. Let your healthcare team know right away if your symptoms change.

Causas

It's not clear what causes metastatic sarcoma. This advanced form of sarcoma happens when cancer cells break away from where they first formed and spread to another part of the body.

Where sarcoma spreads can depend on the type of sarcoma. Soft tissue sarcoma can spread to distant sites such as the lungs, liver or brain. Some soft tissue sarcoma types are more likely than others to spread to nearby lymph nodes.

Ewing sarcoma, which begins in the bones and the soft tissue around the bones, most often spreads to the lungs, other bones or bone marrow. Osteosarcoma, which starts in the bone-forming cells, most often spreads to the lungs and can spread to other bones.

Factores de riesgo

The risk that a sarcoma will spread depends on the type of sarcoma and certain features of the tumor. These factors differ by sarcoma type.

For soft tissue sarcoma, common risk factors for cancer spreading to distant parts of the body include:

• Higher tumor grade. High-grade sarcomas are more likely to spread, especially during the first few years after diagnosis. Tumor grade describes what the cancer cells look like under the microscope and how aggressively the tumor is likely to behave.
• Larger tumor size. Larger soft tissue sarcomas are more likely to spread than smaller tumors.
• Tumor depth. Soft tissue sarcomas that are deeper in the body have a higher risk of distant spread.
• Sarcoma type. Some types of soft tissue sarcoma are more likely to spread than others.
• Cancer that has come back after treatment. Soft tissue sarcoma that returns after treatment has a higher risk of spreading to distant parts of the body.

For bone sarcomas, the factors that affect the risk of cancer spreading also vary. Your care team considers your type of sarcoma and features of your tumor when discussing the risk that the cancer will spread.