Dr Nirasha Chiranjan, a radiation oncologist, educates us on the different types of sarcomas and the treatment option of radiation for soft tissue sarcomas. Types of sarcomas  There are a wide range of sarcomas that form in the body; some are benign whilst others are malignant.  Sarcomas can form: from blood cells; in the cells around joints or tendons; in cartilage, bone, fibrous tissue, skin, mouth, internal organs, in connective tissue and in soft tissue.  Determining your treatment pathway The type of sarcoma a patient is diagnosed with will determine the type of specialist team and treatment approach the patient requires. Soft tissue sarcomas…

Radiation oncologist, Dr Nirasha Chiranjan, educates us on how radiotherapy is used in the treatment of soft tissue sarcoma. What are soft tissue sarcomas (STS)? STS are rare malignant tumours that arise from mesenchymal tissue (soft tissue) at any body site. They represent less than 1% of all newly diagnosed malignant tumours1. The most common sites are the extremities (limbs), trunk and retroperitoneum (abdominal cavity, usually internal)2. Therapeutic goals Before the introduction of radiotherapy for extremity STS, amputation was the standard of care which resulted in significant physical and psychological morbidity. In treating extremity STS, the major therapeutic goals are…