Sarcoma is a rare cancer affecting any part of the body. The most common type are soft tissue sarcomas which develop in muscle, nerves, fatty tissue, and blood vessels. The other types are bone sarcoma and gastrointestinal stromal tumors. Over 10,000 people a year in the US are diagnosed with sarcoma, making it a rare cancer that affects men and women equally. Types of Sarcomas Bone Sarcomas Bone sarcomas are a diverse group of malignancies that originate from bone tissue, comprising several distinct subtypes with varying characteristics and treatment approaches. The main types of bone sarcomas include osteosarcoma, Ewing sarcoma, and chondrosarcoma. Osteosarcoma is the most common type of primary bone cancer, typically arising in the long bones of the arms and legs. It predominantly affects children and young adults, with a peak incidence during adolescence. Osteosarcoma often presents as a painful swelling or mass near the affected bone and may be associated with pathological fractures. Diagnosis is confirmed through imaging studies, such as X-rays, CT scans, or MRI, followed by biopsy for histological examination. Treatment typically involves a combination of surgery, chemotherapy, and sometimes radiation therapy, aimed at achieving local control and preventing metastases. Ewing sarcoma is a rare type of bone cancer that primarily affects children and young adults. It commonly arises in the pelvis, femur, or ribs, although it can occur in any bone. Ewing sarcoma is characterized by aggressive growth and a propensity for metastases to other bones or organs. Symptoms may include pain, swelling, and occasionally, fever. Diagnosis involves imaging studies and biopsy for histological analysis. Treatment usually consists of chemotherapy, surgery, and/or radiation therapy, depending on the extent of the disease and the presence of metastases. Chondrosarcoma is a malignant tumor that arises from cartilage cells within bones. It typically occurs in older adults and commonly affects the pelvis, femur, or shoulder. Chondrosarcoma is characterized by slow growth and a tendency to recur locally, although it has a lower risk of metastases than osteosarcoma and Ewing sarcoma. Diagnosis is established through imaging studies and biopsy. Treatment involves surgical resection of the tumor, with adjuvant therapy such as chemotherapy or radiation therapy in some cases. Soft Tissue Sarcomas Soft tissue sarcomas are a diverse group of cancers that arise from various soft tissues in the body, including muscles, fat, nerves, blood vessels, and connective tissues. These tumors encompass a wide range of subtypes, each with unique histological, molecular, and clinical features. Liposarcoma is the most common type of soft tissue sarcoma, arising from fat cells (adipocytes). It typically occurs in the extremities, retroperitoneum, or trunk. Liposarcoma is classified into several subtypes, including well-differentiated, dedifferentiated, myxoid, and pleomorphic variants, each with distinct characteristics and prognosis. Leiomyosarcoma originates from smooth muscle cells and can arise in various locations, including the uterus, gastrointestinal tract, and soft tissues of the extremities. It is characterized by aggressive growth and a propensity for metastases. Fibrosarcoma arises from fibroblasts, which are cells that produce collagen and other structural proteins in connective tissue. It commonly affects the extremities, trunk, or head and neck region. Fibrosarcoma is characterized by a high recurrence rate and potential for metastases. Synovial sarcoma is a rare soft tissue sarcoma that typically arises near joints, especially in the extremities. Despite its name, it does not originate from synovial tissue. Synovial sarcoma is characterized by a unique chromosomal translocation and tends to affect young adults. It has a propensity for local recurrence and metastasis.

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men in the US, except for skin cancer. It mainly affects older men and is very common – about 13% of men will get it in their lifetime. The prostate is a walnut-sized gland in men by the base of the bladder that produces seminal fluid, which helps sustain and transport sperm. Prostate cancer occurs when cells in the gland change, causing abnormal growth and – like many cancers - it develops slowly over time and so may cause few, if any, symptoms initially. Prostate cancer is often confined within the prostate gland and causes little serious harm, although it may cause troublesome symptoms. However, it can spread to other organs and become life-threatening and so for this reason the sooner prostate cancer is found, the better the chances of treatment being effective.

The pancreas is a long, flat organ in your tummy, just behind the stomach, that releases enzymes that help with digestion of food. It also makes important hormones like insulin that help regulate your blood sugar. You can't usually feel it, but it sits just below the center of your chest, between the rib cage and your belly button. Cancer of the pancreas is fairly common in the US – it's in the top 10 cancers for both males and females. Sadly, it carries serious risk, and has a low survival rate. One of the reasons for this is that symptoms are only noticed when it's fairly advanced. There are a number of types of pancreatic cancer but the most common is an adenocarcinoma that causes over 90% of cases.

The ovaries are two small organs in the pelvis whose main function is to store and release eggs in the monthly cycle that can help pregnancy occur in women of child-bearing age. Because of this they have little use after menopause. Cancer can develop in an ovary and this type of cancer particularly affects women over 50 years old. Sadly, ovarian cancer is often diagnosed late, which means it carries a higher chance of death than some other cancers. It is the eleventh most common cancer in women in the US, occurring in about 1 in 87 women, and around half of these are over the age of 65. There are a number of types of ovarian cancer, distinguished from each other by the type of cell the cancer occurs in. These include epithelial ovarian cancer (that causes around 90% of cases), germ cell cancer that arises from the egg-making cells and stromal ovarian cancer which is rare.

Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) is a type of blood cancer that develops from the lymphatic system. This system is a network of vessels throughout your body that work as part of your immune system, carrying fluid containing infection-fighting white blood cells, called lymphocytes, to where they detect a threat. In NHL, these lymphocytes become dysfunctional and multiply out of control. They can then collect in different areas of the lymphatic system known as the lymph glands, and this can cause swelling you can see and feel in certain areas of the body. The consequence is that the lymphatic system becomes less able to fight infections. NHL can occur at any age, but your chance of developing the condition increases as you get older, with over half of cases diagnosed in people over 65. It's fairly common in the US, within the top 10 most common cancers, and accounts for 4% of all cancers.

A mole is usually a mid- or dark-brown flat mark (a junctional nevus), or a dome-shaped brown or flesh-colored bump (a dermal nevus). It should be neither itchy nor bothersome. You may have numerous moles, and they may run in your family. They may have been present for as long as you can remember, or since birth, although new moles can appear throughout childhood and even into your 20s, especially after recent sun exposure. People with certain skin types, such as those with pale skin, blue eyes, and red or blond hair, and who are likely to easily sunburn, are likely to be more at risk of concerning changes to moles.

Melanoma (also known as malignant melanoma) is the most serious type of skin cancer caused by sun exposure. It's serious because the cancer can spread to other organs in the body, so it needs prompt identification and treatment. You can take steps to prevent it, but also keep a watch for any moles or other skin marks that are new, changing or don't look like your other moles. Melanoma is the 5th most common cancer in the US, with almost 100,000 new cases each year. The number of cases has doubled in the last 30 years, and it can occur at any age.

Lung cancer is one of the most common cancers in the US, and sadly, it often has a poor outlook. Cancer occurs when there is an uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells in the lung tissue. This can cause a blockage in the airways or fluid on the lungs, making breathing difficult, and ultimately it can spread to other organs and cause widespread damage and threat to life. Smoking is the cause of most lung cancers – because smoking is so common, this makes lung cancer very common. Older people are more likely to be affected, and men more often than women. When cancer starts in the lungs, it is called primary lung cancer. Cancer spreading from another organ via the blood to the lungs is known as secondary lung cancer or metastatic cancer. Breast and bowel cancer often metastasize to the lungs unless they are diagnosed and treated early.

Kidney cancer is one of the 10 most common cancers in the US. Known medically as renal cancer, it is more common in men than women, and it’s rare in people under the age of 50. There are several different types of kidney cancer but the commonest type is known as renal cell cancer. Others include transitional cell cancer, Wilm’s tumors, and clear cell sarcomas that only occur in children. You have two kidneys, one on either side of your tummy (your flanks) and one slightly to the back. Their job is critical in keeping us alive - they balance up the salts (sodium, potassium, and chloride) in our blood and excrete out any excess in urine. They filter out toxins in the urine and balance out fluids by making the urine more concentrated or more watery, depending on what we need. Signs that might alert you to a kidney problem are blood in the urine or a lump in one of your flanks. It’s confirmed with blood tests, urine tests, and scans.

The esophagus is another name for the food pipe, the tube that connects the mouth to the stomach. Esophageal cancer can arise anywhere along the food pipe. In the US, it is rather uncommon. There are two types of esophageal cancer: adenocarcinoma is the most common, arising from within the mucous glands towards the bottom of the tube, and squamous cell carcinoma, which arises from the lining of the esophagus in the top and middle part of the tube. The sooner the cancer is found, the better the chance of curing the disease. It’s tough to treat, and survival depends on whether the cancer has spread to other body parts.

The womb is a pear-shaped female organ in your pelvis where a baby grows during pregnancy. It’s mostly muscular, and its lining is called the endometrium. Endometrial cancer begins in the lining of the womb and can then spread to the body of the womb and is sometimes referred to as uterine cancer. When discovered early enough, removal of the womb can cure the cancer. It’s the 4th most common cancer in women in the US with over 65,000 women developing it each year. Most cases occur over the age of 50 with the peak incidence being between the ages of 75 and 80. Most women get symptoms and therefore present at an early stage, giving a good chance that any treatment will succeed. The chances of survival are fairly good, and – taking into account all the different levels of endometrial cancer - more than 81% survive 5 years or more.

The cervix is known as the neck of the womb and is a narrow muscular opening connecting the vagina to the womb (uterus). Cancer can affect any part of the cervix. Cervical cancer is most commonly caused by certain strains of a virus called the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV). The risk of cervical cancer has been much reduced with both the US’s cervical screening program and the HPV vaccination program. It's a relatively uncommon cancer but receives a lot of attention as it is so easily prevented if early cell changes are caught and because it affects young women who are otherwise healthy and at low risk of other cancers.