Liposarcoma

How far the tumor has spread and how aggressive it is helps doctors decide what form of treatment is best. In most cases, liposarcoma does not spread beyond its local location. Treatment options will vary greatly, depending on your child's situation. Your child's doctor and other members of your care team will discuss the options with you in-depth. Prompt medical attention and aggressive therapy are important for the best prognosis.

Traditional treatments for liposarcoma

Surgery to remove the entire tumor along with surrounding healthy tissue to ensure there are no remaining cancer cells is the best treatment for liposarcoma in children. Radiation may also be used if surgery is not effective on its own.

Treatment may include some combination of the following:

Surgery

Depending on the size and location of the tumor, your child may either need:

• Limb-salvage surgery, which helps preserve the limb by removing the tumor and wide margins of healthy tissue surrounding the tumor.
• Amputation may be necessary if the tumor cannot be removed (for example, if it involves the nerves and blood vessels).

Radiation therapy

Our doctors use precisely targeted and dosed radiation to kill cancer cells left behind after your child’s surgery. Because of risks associated with high doses of radiation in young children, radiation is used only if surgery alone is ineffective

Supportive Care

This is any type of treatment to prevent and treat infections, side effects of treatments, and complications, and to keep your child comfortable during treatment.

What is the recommended long-term care for children treated for liposarcoma?Children treated for liposarcoma should visit a survivorship clinic every year to:

• manage disease complications
• screen for early recurrence of cancer
• manage late effects of treatment

A typical follow-up visit may include some or all of the following:

• a physical exam
• laboratory testing
• imaging scans

Through the David B. Perini, Jr. Quality of Life Clinic at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, childhood cancer survivors receive a comprehensive follow-up evaluation from their cancer care team.

• Our childhood cancer survivorship clinic is held weekly.
• In addition to meeting with your pediatric oncologists, your child may see one of our endocrinologists, cardiologists, neurologists, neuro-psychologists or alternative/complementary therapy specialists.
• We also offer the following services:
  • patient and family education
  • psychosocial assessment
  • genetic counseling
  • reproductive and fertility evaluation and counseling
  • opportunities to speak with other childhood cancer survivors