You must be aware of lung, oral and breast cancer, but have you ever heard what sarcoma is? If not, then no worries as we have shared everything about this rare, aggressive cancer.
Sarcoma is a rare type of cancer that spreads quickly making it difficult to diagnose. There’s a lack of awareness about sarcoma cancer compared to others like breast cancer, lung cancer, cervical cancer, and skin cancer. It is a cancerous tumor that develops in the connective tissues of the bone. These tissues are generally responsible for supporting or connecting various cells or tissues in the body such as fat, muscles, blood vessels, nerves, bone, and cartilage.
Types of Sarcoma
There are two types of sarcoma namely soft tissue sarcoma and bone sarcoma:
- Soft tissue sarcoma: It often starts in places like fat (liposarcoma), muscle (leiomyosarcoma), nerve cells (neurosarcoma), and deep skin tissues (Kaposi’s sarcoma). There are more than 40 to 50 subtypes of soft tissue sarcoma. It can appear anywhere in your body but it is most common in areas like arms, legs, and chest.
- Bone sarcoma: Also known as osteosarcoma which occurs in the bones. This is when the cells in bone grow aggressively and uncontrollably and begin to divide. Children and young adults are at higher risk of developing bone sarcoma in the long bones like the arms or legs.
Symptoms And Treatment
It is difficult to detect sarcoma at its early stage as it rarely causes noticeable symptoms. This can be harmful as the cancer may have already spread to other parts of the body by the time it is detected. One can experience abdominal pain that worsens over time, internal bleeding, swelling and stiffness in the bone, restricted mobility, fever, unusual lumps, fatigue, unintentional weight gain, and reduced appetite.
According to Dr. Amol Pawar, Radiation Oncologist, Onco Life Cancer Center, Chiplun, “What makes Sarcoma cancer hazardous and life-threatening is its ability to spread quickly to other parts of your body than you may realize. Sarcoma-causing cells are much more aggressive as they grow and divide faster. This swift growth of the cells encourages them to control other tissues in the body. Once it invades your blood vessels it can easily travel through the lungs and liver promoting the formation of new tumors. The potential of metastasis is higher in sarcoma cancer compared to other cancers meaning it spreads swiftly from their original location to various parts of the body.”
If you’re diagnosed with sarcoma, consider that your treatment options and prognosis depend on multiple factors your doctor can explain to you. Treatment options and likely outcomes are as varied as sarcomas are.