Treatment for Abdominal Soft Tissue Cancer

A cancerous sarcoma tumor is a rare type of cancer that affects the soft tissues of the body. Sarcomas can develop in fat cells, muscles, nerves, deep skin tissues or blood vessels. Retroperitoneal sarcoma occurs when a sarcoma lump develops in the soft tissues of the retroperitoneum, an area at the back of the abdomen containing the kidneys, pancreas, rectum and parts of the esophagus, stomach and colon.

Retroperitoneal sarcoma tumors can grow very large. When this occurs, the cancerous sarcoma tumors can press against or spread into surrounding abdominal organs or major blood vessels. Treatment of retroperitoneal sarcoma typically requires surgery to remove tumors and limit their growth and spread.

Retroperitoneal Sarcoma Treatments We Offer

Our surgical team partners closely with our cancer specialists as a part of the USC Sarcoma Program to create a customized treatment plan for each patient diagnosed with retroperitoneal sarcoma.

Treatment for retroperitoneal sarcoma generally includes abdominal surgery to remove the tumor. Depending on your condition, our specialists may also recommend additional, nonsurgical treatments — including chemotherapy or radiation therapy — to shrink the tumor before surgical removal.

Our care teams may also prescribe new and emerging retroperitoneal sarcoma therapies, including targeted immunotherapy, for patients who are good candidates for these treatments.

What to Expect During Retroperitoneal Sarcoma Surgery

Retroperitoneal sarcoma surgeries are long and complex procedures that demand the skill of a comprehensive, coordinated team of sarcoma care specialists.

During tumor removal surgery, our surgeons will make a large incision in the patient’s abdomen. Teams will then work to carefully remove the sarcoma while preserving as much healthy abdominal tissue and organs as possible.

Nearly half of retroperitoneal sarcoma tumor surgeries require the surgeon to remove damaged portions of the kidney, large intestines or colon. In some cases, they might also have to remove or reconstruct major abdominal blood vessels during the sarcoma removal.

Recovering from Retroperitoneal Sarcoma Surgery

Retroperitoneal sarcoma surgery recovery can take up to six to eight weeks. During recovery, patients will need to restrict their activity level while their surgery site heals. Then, for two to three years after surgery, patients will undergo an MRI or CT scan of their abdomen every four to six months so that our care teams can monitor for signs of tumor recurrence.

Unfortunately, most sarcomas can come back. The risk of retroperitoneal sarcoma reappearance varies from patient to patient, depending on the type, size and location of the sarcoma. If a tumor returns, rest assured our care teams will respond with a customized, targeted treatment plan backed by Keck Medicine’s respected, state-of-the-art surgical care and leading-edge cancer therapies.