 I am Dr. Bhadiraj, consultant radiation oncologist, Manipal Hospital's Old Airport Road, Bangalore. Every year, July is observed as Sarcoma Awareness Month throughout the world to create awareness amongst the general public regarding this rare form of cancer called sarcoma. Sarcomas generally arise from either bone sarcoma or from the soft tissue called soft tissue sarcoma. Tissue sarcomas generally involve the muscles, blood vessels, nerves, the retroperitoneal tissue called retroperitoneal sarcoma, the gastrointestinal tract called gastrointestinal stromal tumor, the uterus called uterine sarcoma or the chest wall called Atkins tumor. Generally patients present with painless lump anywhere in the body. When the patient presents with any painless lump in the body, we do a clinical examination following which a biopsy and immunohistochemistry is done to know the type of sarcoma and the grade of sarcoma, following which either a PET CT scan or a CT scan or an MRI or an ultrasound is done to know the stage of the sarcoma. The main stage of treatment for sarcoma is surgery. When a patient comes with a lump after evaluation, the surgeon tries to remove the sarcoma completely. However during surgery if it is stuck to underlying structures like vessels, nerves or bone and it cannot be completely removed, radiation is sometimes considered intraoperatively by placing hollow tubes on the tumor bed and two days later we acquire a scan to see the position of these tubes and load the radioactive isotopes through these tubes. This procedure is called brachytherapy. We can precisely deliver the radiation through these brachytherapy catheters avoiding any dose to the adjacent normal structures. Sometimes the patients initially present with a very large tumor which cannot be operated to get a clear margin and to prevent any local recurrence. Hence these patients may be subjected to radiation first to shrink the size of the tumor and then consider surgery. These days with the advancement in imaging techniques and the radiation delivery by volumetric modulated arc and image guided radiation, it is possible to precisely locate the tumor and deliver adequate doses and avoid surrounding normal structures and prevent any kind of toxicity in excess. The exact cause of sarcoma is not known, however to prevent other forms of cancer we generally advise the public to follow a healthy lifestyle, take adequate fruits and vegetables, avoid consumption of tobacco in any form, moderation in alcohol, exercises daily at least 30 to 40 minutes of brisk walking should be sufficient. Thank you.