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Gynecologic Cancers

When you or someone you love has gynecologic cancer, you want advanced treatment and coordinated support from experts in cancer care. The University of Michigan Health Rogel Cancer Center team prioritizes your health with a customized approach to cancer care and the latest cancer research.

Screening and Prevention

Screening and Detection

People with a strong family history of sarcomas or other cancers occurring at a young age may wish to discuss the benefits and disadvantages of genetic testing with their doctor. The genetic testing results should always be explained by a genetic counselor or a specially trained doctor who can interpret the results and advise high-risk patients about early cancer detection.

Sarcoma Risk Factors

Having certain inherited disorders can increase the risk of developing adult soft tissue sarcoma

Anything that increases your risk of getting a disease is called a risk factor. Risk factors for soft tissue sarcoma include the following inherited disorders:

  • Retinoblastoma.
  • Neurofibromatosis type 1 (von Recklinghausen disease or NF1).
  • Tuberous sclerosis.
  • Familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP).
  • Li-Fraumeni syndrome.
  • Werner syndrome.
  • Basal cell nevus syndrome.

Sarcoma Awareness

July is Sarcoma Awareness Month

Malignant (cancerous) tumors of the connective tissues are called "sarcomas". There are more than 50 sub-types of sarcoma.

Resources

There are a number of resources available to support those diagnosed with sarcoma.

Sarcoma Education from the U-M Rogel Cancer Center

the following open as pdf documents:

Sarcoma Treatment Options

Once your physicians know the type of bone sarcoma, the location of the primary tumor and if there are any metastatic tumors in the body, all the physicians who are involved in the multidisciplinary discussion of your case can come up with a plan for treatment.

Remember: the order of treatment is determined by the size of the tumor and its location, as well as whether there is metastatic tumor anywhere else in the body.

Sarcoma Diagnosis

Most commonly, bone sarcoma patients present with a pain in the area of the lesion. In more advanced lesions, patients may notice swelling in the area or present with a fracture of the affected bone. A complete patient history is extremely important when diagnosing bone tumors.

Physical Examination
A physician will do a complete examination of the painful area to evaluate the surrounding skin, blood vessels, nerves or bone and any surrounding lymph nodes.

Radiological Imaging (X-rays and scans)

What is Cancer

One of the most confusing aspects about being told you have sarcoma is that doctors and other health care providers use terms such as cancer, malignancy, tumor, growth, lump, and nodule. It is difficult for patients to sort out what all of these terms mean.

Sarcoma Overview

"Sarcoma" is a term used to describe a whole family of cancers that arise in the body's connective tissues, which include fat, muscle, blood vessels, deep skin tissues, nerves, bones, and cartilage.

Sarcoma is broken down into two types: soft tissue tumors and bone tumors.

Soft tissue sarcomas come in many forms:

Make an Appointment

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