Sarcomas, Soft Tissue: Symptoms and Signs

Approved by the Cancer.Net Editorial Board, 11/2023

ON THIS PAGE: You will find out more about the changes and medical problems that can be a sign of sarcoma. Use the menu to see other pages.

What are the symptoms and signs of sarcoma?

Sarcomas can start in any part of the body. The types of symptoms that people have from a sarcoma depend on where it starts. People with sarcoma may experience one or more of the following symptoms or signs. Symptoms are changes that you can feel in your body. Signs are changes in something measured, like taking your blood pressure or doing a lab test. Together, symptoms and signs can help describe a medical problem. Sometimes, people with sarcoma do not have any of the symptoms and signs described below. Or, the cause of a symptom or sign may be a medical condition that is not cancer.

Soft-tissue sarcoma rarely causes symptoms in the early stages. The first sign of a sarcoma in an arm, leg, or torso may be a painless lump or swelling. Most lumps are not sarcoma. The most common soft-tissue lumps are lipomas. Lipomas are made of fat cells and are not cancer. Lipomas have often been there for many years and rarely change in size. In the uterus, benign tumors called fibroids (leiomyomas) far outnumber sarcomas, but sarcomas of the uterus are sometimes mistaken for benign fibroids.

However, it is important to talk with your doctor about any lumps, especially those that are larger than 2 inches (5 centimeters), grow larger, or are painful, regardless of their location. People with a sarcoma that starts in the abdomen may not have any symptoms, or they may have pain or a sense of fullness.

Because sarcoma can develop in flexible, elastic tissues or deep spaces in the body, the tumor can often push normal tissue out of its way as it grows. Therefore, a sarcoma may grow quite large before it causes symptoms. Eventually, it may cause pain as the growing tumor begins to press against nerves and muscles.

Sarcomas that start in other parts of the body may cause other symptoms or signs. For a sarcoma affecting a specific organ, the symptoms are often related to the organ or body part where the sarcoma develops.

Meanwhile, sarcomas of the uterus can cause uterine bleeding or increase the size of the uterus.

If you are concerned about any changes you experience, please talk with your doctor. Your doctor will try to understand what is causing your symptom(s). They may do an exam and order tests to understand the cause of the problem, which is called a diagnosis.

If a sarcoma is diagnosed, relieving symptoms remains an important part of cancer care and treatment. Managing symptoms may also be called "palliative and supportive care,” which is not the same as hospice care given at the end of life. This type of care focuses on managing symptoms and supporting people who face serious illnesses, such as cancer. You can receive palliative and supportive care at any time during cancer treatment. Learn more in this guide’s section on Coping with Treatment.

Be sure to talk with your health care team about the symptoms you experience, including any new symptoms or a change in symptoms.

The next section in this guide is Diagnosis. It explains what tests may be needed to learn more about the cause of the symptoms. Use the menu to choose a different section to read in this guide.