What You Need to know about Sarcomas
Sarcoma is the name of group cancers that arise from tumors within the bones and tissues, such as muscles and fat. According to Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, sarcoma lumps start out as tiny lumps that cannot be felt and then grow and move throughout the body. They impact children and adolescents primarily compared to adults, and one of the most significant indicators of sarcoma is lumps without any injury.
At this time, research has not shown what causes sarcoma cancer, but scientists have been able to find some risk factors that are listed below:
Risk factors presented by the American Cancer Society are below:
- Family History: Family history of sarcoma or other medical syndromes such as familial retinoblastoma and neurofibromatosis type 1 can increase the risk.
- Radiation Treatment: The radiation from cancer treatment can put an individual at risk for developing sarcomas in the body.
- Lack of Lymph System Drainage: Radiation can damage our lymph nodes which carry out our immune system cells throughout our body.
- Harsh Chemicals: Industrial chemicals and herbicides have been linked to causing other forms of cancer and being a risk for Sarcoma.
Signs of Sarcoma look like this:
- Lumps under the skin that appear without known injury.
- Pain in the bone
- Unexplained broken bones.
- Blood in stool and vomit
Sarcoma can be treated through chemotherapy, radiation, or surgery, and effective treatment can be determined depending on the spread of the tumors. First, however, it is essential to be aware of your bone health and to immediately speak to a healthcare provider if anything changes.
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