July is National Sarcoma Awareness Month. According to the American Cancer Society (ACS), about 13,040 new soft tissue sarcomas are estimated to be diagnosed this year.

ACS Senior Community Manager Kim Durst explains this type of cancer. “Sarcoma is a type of cancer that starts in certain parts of the body like your bone or muscle. It starts in the soft tissues like fat muscle nerves, fibrous tissues, blood vessels or deep skin tissue. It can really be found anywhere in the body but most of them start in the arms or legs.”

Durst says contributing factors include high levels of radiation and genetics. There are over 50 different types of sarcoma with various types of cells that grow at different rates. Durst encourages those with a family history of the cancer to consult with their doctor as soon as possible to see if any preventative action can be taken.