Sarcoma

There are very few known risk factors for sarcomas and patients do not always present with them. However, some causes and risk factors may include:

• Family history of cancer-related syndromes such as neurofibromatosis. Neurofibromatosis can cause multiple benign enlargements of nerve sheaths, leading to a higher risk of one of these enlarged nerve sheaths turning cancerous. Other syndromes that may increase risk are Li-Fraumeni syndrome, familial adenomatous polyposis, Carney-Stratakis syndrome, hereditary retinoblastoma, neurofibromatosis and BRCA2 gene mutations.
• Past radiotherapy treatment can lead to a slightly higher chance of developing a sarcoma within the previously radiated area. This can occur years later.
• Exposure to certain toxic chemicals such as industrial chemicals or herbicides.
• A damaged lymphatic system, the network of tissues, vessels and organs that are an important part of the immune system.