Sarcoma is a rare malignancy but still prevalent in children. It is the tumour that arises from the soft tissues of the body. There are multiple subtypes as it emerges from blood vessels, bones, fat, nerves, muscles. Since these tissues are found everywhere in the body so sarcoma can arise from anywhere, most of the tumour appears from limbs compared to the central body.
There are various red flags associated with sarcomas, like swelling that suddenly started increasing in size, pain full swellings. Generally, these tumours stay in the body for long before they are located. These tumours are easily detected as bumps/lumps usually are peripheral, but it needs investigation such as CT scan and MRI at the doctor’s discretion. These tumours have a liking for lungs, and CT lung is also done to rule out Lung Mets. Sometimes Pet CT is also done for staging purpose. If these tumours are big and deep, they are challenging to treat and superficial, and minor tumours are easily treatable.
The primary treatment for sarcomas is surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy. In localised tumours, generally, surgery is required, followed by radiotherapy. Surgery is usually limb-sparing, and typically, for limb-sparing surgeries, sometimes we use chemotherapy or radiotherapy before surgery. Sometimes surgery is not possible due to patient health and tumour location then these tumours are treated with radiotherapy alone. Tumours that spread to other organs treated with chemotherapy. There is a recent addition of oral targeted agents for stage IV patients after specific driver mutation for cancer.
Oncofacts
- The majority of people are picked with sarcoma when their disease is about the size of a large orange.
- Soft tissue sarcoma patients wait to a tune of two years, i.e. between spotting symptoms and diagnosis.
- As many as 40% of patients have diagnostic dilemma initially.