A crippling and life-threatening disease
Sarcoma is a type of cancer that can develop in either soft tissue or bones. It is essentially a malignant tumor that can affect anyone. Soft tissue sarcomas are far more common than bone sarcomas, and for that reason, we will explore it in greater depth in this gallery—from diagnosis to treatment.
Browse through the following gallery and learn more about this type of cancer.
Sarcoma is a type of cancer that can develop in either soft tissue or bones. The word itself means that a tumor is malignant, i.e. it’s cancer.
Tumors can start in different types of soft tissue, including fat and muscle but also blood vessels, tendons, ligaments, and deep skin tissues.
Soft tissue sarcomas can develop in any area of the body, though many start in the arms or legs.
Other commonly affected areas include the trunk, head, neck, internal organs, and the back of the abdominal cavity (an area known as the retroperitoneum).
Some sarcomas also start in the bones. Bone sarcoma, however, is fairly rare when compared to soft tissue sarcoma.
Soft tissue sarcomas usually don’t have any symptoms when they start. As they develop and get bigger, depending on the location, some symptoms may occur.
A painless lump can cause swelling under the skin, abdominal swelling may cause some pain and other symptoms like constipation, while swelling in the lung area may trigger a cough or breathlessness.
In the case of bone sarcomas, restricted joint movement, bone pain (especially at night), and swelling or a mass may indicate the existence of a sarcoma.
Some of the most common types of soft tissue sarcomas include leiomyosarcoma (which develops in muscle tissue) and liposarcoma (which develops in fat tissue).
Other common types include angiosarcoma ( hich develops in cells of blood or lymph glands) and gastrointestinal stromal tumours (GISTs), which affect connective tissue around the digestive system.
One of the most common types of bone sarcoma is called osteosarcoma (also known as osteogenic sarcoma). Others include chondrosarcoma, Ewing's sarcoma, and chordoma.
While anyone can develop sarcomas, there are a few factors that may increase the risk.
Unlike bone sarcoma, which occurs more in children and teens, risk of soft tissue sarcoma increases as we get older. It is more common in middle-aged or elderly people.
Some genetic conditions, including neurofibromatosis type 1 and retinoblastoma, can increase the risk of developing sarcomas.
People who’ve had radiotherapy for another type of cancer are at higher risk of developing soft tissue sarcoma in subsequent years.
Being exposed to certain chemicals, including phenoxyacetic herbicides, dioxins, and vinyl chloride, also increases the risk of developing sarcomas.
People with a weakened immune system (e.g. people with HIV) are at higher risk of developing a rare type of sarcoma called Kaposi's sarcoma, which is caused by the human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8).
Not all lumps are sarcomas. In fact, cysts and lipomas are far more common types of lumps (made of fluid or fat).
But if you have a lump, and particularly if it’s getting bigger over time, you should get it checked out by a professional.
The first stage of the diagnosis is made through physical examination, by looking at and feeling the lump.
Tests usually include an ultrasound, CT, or other scan in the first instance, which can be followed up by an MRI scan later on.
A biopsy can also be done. This is when a sample of the tumor is extracted and then analyzed in a lab to detect cancer cells in the tissue.
After a cancerogenous tumor has been detected, it’s classified under a grading and staging system. The grading is classified into low, medium, and high.
Low grade means that the cancer cells are growing slowly and are not very aggressive and less likely to spread. The other side of the spectrum, high grade, means cells look very abnormal and are spreading rapidly.
Staging is classified from 1 to 4. Being 1 a low-grade, small (less than 5 cm) sarcoma that has not spread, and 4 being any cancer that has spread to other parts of the body.
Surgery is a popular treatment method for soft tissue sarcoma diagnosed at early stages. The tumor and surrounding tissue is removed.
Radiotherapy is also a common form of treatment, particularly when surgery is not possible. Beams of radiation are directed towards the affected area.
Chemotherapy is also used as a form of treating sarcomas, but a number of other anti-cancer drugs can also be used.
Larger, high-grade tumors can sometimes return or easily spread to other areas of the body.
But when detected at an early stage, or if the tumor is a low-grade one removed via surgery, then there is a chance that the person will fully recover.
Sources: (NHS) (American Cancer Society) (Sarcoma UK)
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Sarcoma is a type of cancer that can develop in either soft tissue or bones. It is essentially a malignant tumor that can affect anyone. Soft tissue sarcomas are far more common than bone sarcomas, and for that reason, we will explore it in greater depth in this gallery—from diagnosis to treatment.
Browse through the following gallery and learn more about this type of cancer.