Liposarcoma

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on May 4, 2025.

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Liposarcoma is a type of cancer that develops from fat cells. It is most commonly found in your legs or thighs, but it can also be found in your abdomen, back, arms, chest, and neck. Liposarcomas most often occur in people between the ages of 50 to 70 years old.

WHILE YOU ARE HERE:

Informed consent

is a legal document that explains the tests, treatments, or procedures that you may need. Informed consent means you understand what will be done and can make decisions about what you want. You give your permission when you sign the consent form. You can have someone sign this form for you if you are not able to sign it. You have the right to understand your medical care in words you know. Before you sign the consent form, understand the risks and benefits of what will be done. Make sure all your questions are answered.

An IV

is a small tube placed in your vein that is used to give you medicine or liquids.

Medicines:

• Antinausea medicine may be given to calm your stomach and prevent vomiting.
• Pain medicine may be given. Do not wait until the pain is severe to ask for more medicine. The medicine may not work as well at controlling your pain if you wait too long to take it. Pain medicine can make you dizzy or sleepy. Prevent falls by calling for help when you want to get out of bed.

Tests:

• X-ray: This machine is used to take a picture of your tumor and the area around it. These pictures may show if the tumor has damaged your bones. Your healthcare provider may also take an x-ray of your lungs to check if the cancer has spread.
• CT scan: This test is also called a CAT scan. An x-ray machine uses a computer to take pictures of your tumor and check for other problems. Pictures of your lungs and other organs may be taken to check if the cancer has spread. You may be given a dye before the pictures are taken to help healthcare providers see the pictures better. Tell the healthcare provider if you have ever had an allergic reaction to contrast dye.
• MRI: This scan uses powerful magnets and a computer to take pictures of your tumor and the area around it. An MRI may be used to look at the organs, blood vessels, nerves, and bones around your tumor. It may also help to learn what type of tumor you have. You may be given dye to help the pictures show up better. Tell the healthcare provider if you have ever had an allergic reaction to contrast dye. Do not enter the MRI room with anything metal. Metal can cause serious injury. Tell the healthcare provider if you have any metal in or on your body.
• Positron emission tomography scan: This is also called a PET scan. Your healthcare provider may use this test to see if you have cancer and if it has spread. A dye is injected into your vein (blood vessel). This dye helps show your cells more clearly. Tell the healthcare provider if you have ever had an allergic reaction to contrast dye.

Treatment options

The following list of medications are related to or used in the treatment of this condition.

• Ibrance
• Halaven
• palbociclib
• eribulin

Treatments:

You may have any of the following treatments alone or together:

• Chemotherapy: This medicine works by killing cancer cells. Your healthcare provider may use chemotherapy to make your tumor smaller before surgery. Your healthcare provider may also give you chemotherapy after surgery to kill any cancer cells that remain.
• Radiation: Radiation kills cancer cells and prevents the cancer from spreading. Radiation may also help stop your cancer from coming back after surgery. You may need radiation before, during, or after surgery.
• Surgery: You may need surgery to remove your tumor and some of the tissue around it. A graft may be used to replace bone or tissue that may have been removed. A graft is a piece of tissue from another area of your body or from a donor. In some cases, your healthcare provider may need to amputate (remove) your limb to remove your tumor.

RISKS:

With surgery, you may bleed more than expected or get an infection. If surgery was done on your arm or leg, you may have trouble doing your usual activities. Even with treatment, liposarcoma may grow back, spread, or be life-threatening. You may need to have another surgery and other treatments to treat cancer that comes back. If your liposarcoma is not treated, your cancer may spread to other areas of your body. The cancer cells may damage your organs and your symptoms may worsen. This can be life-threatening.

CARE AGREEMENT:

You have the right to help plan your care. Learn about your health condition and how it may be treated. Discuss treatment options with your healthcare providers to decide what care you want to receive. You always have the right to refuse treatment.

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The above information is an educational aid only. It is not intended as medical advice for individual conditions or treatments. Talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist before following any medical regimen to see if it is safe and effective for you.

Further information

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