Treatment

Surgery is the most common treatment for epithelioid sarcoma, but other treatments may be used in addition to surgery.

• Surgery. Surgery generally involves removing the cancer and a margin of healthy tissue surrounding it to help prevent recurrence. In severe cases, depending on the size, depth and location of the cancer, there's a rare possibility that part of the affected limb would need to be amputated, but surgeons try their best to avoid doing this.
• Radiation therapy. Radiation therapy uses high-energy beams, such as X-rays or protons, to kill cancer cells. Radiation therapy is sometimes used before surgery to shrink the tumor and reduce the risk of the cancer returning, and after surgery to help reduce the risk of recurrence.
• Chemotherapy. Chemotherapy uses drugs to kill cancer cells. Chemotherapy appears to be less effective in treating epithelioid sarcoma compared with other cancers, though it's sometimes used in addition to surgery or when the cancer has spread.
• Clinical trials. Clinical trials are studies of new treatments. These studies provide a chance to try the latest treatment options, but the risk of side effects may not be known. Targeted cancer therapies — drugs or other substances that target certain molecules to block cancer growth — show promise in the treatment of epithelioid sarcoma. Ask your doctor about the availability of clinical trials, including the potential risks and benefits.