Sarcoma: About Sarcoma
Sarcoma (from the Greek word for fleshy tumor), is an uncommon type of cancer that originates in connective tissues such as bone, cartilage and muscle. It develops when the cells that make up these tissues (called mesenchymal cells) begin to grow out of control.
Some types of sarcoma are found in children, while others attack men and women in their most productive years (30-60).
Most cancers are classified as carcinomas, which start in organs such as the lungs, breast, colon, or others. Carcinomas can be spread through the lymphatic system or blood to other areas of the body. Sarcomas are different, as they rarely spread to the lymph glands. Rather they mostly travel through the blood stream and may eventually spread to the liver, lungs, and, rarely, the brain.
While sarcomas may arise anywhere in the body, they most often originate in the arms, legs, chest, or in the abdomen. Sarcomas are often not symptomatic until they are very large and may first be noticed as swelling or a painless lump. As they grow larger they can cause pain or soreness by pressing on surrounding nerves or muscles and eventually spreading to nearby organs. As yet, no one knows why some people develop these growths and others don’t.
Curing sarcoma usually depends upon discovering the tumor at an early stage. Because sarcomas represent less than one percent of all cancers and are seldom seen by most oncologists, finding the best care can be challenging. Proper management of sarcomas requires evaluation at a Comprehensive Cancer Center, because it is essential to start with an accurate diagnosis, which is mostly likely to come from a pathologist who frequently sees this rare disease.
Once the correct diagnosis is made, treatment by a multidisciplinary team of medical, surgical and radiation oncologists skilled in all aspects of its clinical care is strongly recommended for this uncommon disease. In addition, this approach may provide further treatment options through access to the latest investigational therapies.