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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.
Other risk factors for soft tissue sarcoma include past treatments with radiation therapy during childhood or radiation for certain types of cancer:
- Retinoblastoma
- Breast cancer
- Lymphoma
- Cervical cancer
Source: National Cancer Institute: General Information About Adult Soft Tissue Sarcoma.
Risk factors for osteosarcoma include the following:
- Age and height: The risk of osteosarcoma is highest during the teenage growth spurts. Children with osteosarcoma are usually tall for their age. There may be a link between rapid bone growth and the risk of tumors forming.
- Gender: Osteosarcoma is more common in males than in females.
- Race/ethnicity: Osteosarcoma is slightly more common in African Americans than in whites.
- Radiation to bones: Young people who were treated with radiation for an earlier cancer have a higher risk of getting osteosarcoma later. Normal X-rays do not seem to increase the risk.
- Certain bone diseases: Children and teens with certain non-cancer bone diseases have an increased risk of getting osteosarcoma later, usually as an adult. Some of these diseases include Paget disease of bone and multiple hereditary osteochondromas.
- Certain cancer syndromes: Children with certain rare, inherited cancer syndromes have an increased risk of getting osteosarcoma. One of these syndromes is Li-Fraumeni syndrome. When children with retinoblastoma (a rare eye cancer) are treated with radiation it raises the chance of osteosarcoma in the bones of the skull.
Source: American Cancer Society - Osteosarcoma Overview
Risk factors for uterine sarcoma include the following:
- Past treatment with radiation therapy to the pelvis.
- Treatment with tamoxifen for breast cancer. A patient taking this drug should have a pelvic exam every year and report any vaginal bleeding (other than menstrual bleeding) as soon as possible.
Source: American Cancer Society - Uterine Sarcoma.