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Soft tissue cancers

Description

It refers to cancer which starts in muscle, blood vessels, fat, fibrous tissue & other supporting tissues of the body. Basically they begin in tissues which are help connect, support & surround other body structures. These tumors can be found anywhere in the body but mostly form in arms, legs, abdomen & chest. In most cases they show no signs or symptoms till the tumor has become big & presses on nearby nerves or other parts of the body.

Its subtypes may include conditions like liposarcoma (cancer occurs in fat cells of the body), atypical lipomatous tumor (rare tumor of soft tissue), malignant solitary fibrous tumor (rare mesenchymal tumors), inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor (tumor made up of cells called myofibroblastic spindle cells), leiomyosarcoma (rare cancer of smooth muscle tissue), low-grade fibromyxoid sarcoma, rhabdomyosarcoma (rare type which occurs in skeletal muscle tissue or hollow organs like bladder or uterus) and many others.

The most common treatment is surgical removal with others including radiation, chemotherapy depending upon type, size, location & aggressiveness of tumor.

Causes

Its causes are unclear. In general, it is said that certain mutations in DNA within the cells causes the cancer. The mutations (changes) cause the cells to growth & divide uncontrollably even when the normal cells die. The accumulating abnormal cells form a tumor & this tumor may break away & spread to other parts of the body. Also the type of cell that has genetic mutation will determine the type of soft tissue sarcoma a person will have.

Risk factors

Factors that increase your chance of getting soft tissue sarcoma include:

  • Inherited syndromes i.e. from parents to children
  • Radiation therapy for cancer
  • Exposure to chemicals (like herbicides, arsenic & dioxin)
Symptoms

Soft tissue sarcoma doesn’t produce any symptoms or signs in initial stages. However, when tumor has grown, you can see:

  • Noticeable lump or swelling
  • Pain in case the tumor is pressing on other nerves or muscles.
Diagnosis

Its diagnosis involves:

  • Physical examination
  • Imaging tests like X-ray, ultrasound, MRI scan (uses powerful magnets & radiowaves to view detailed images of inside of the body)
  • Biopsy (sample taken of growth to look under a microscope)
Management

Its management depends upon the extent of tumor, however, the treatment involves:

  • Surgery to remove the tumor
  • Chemotherapy
  • Radiation therapy (in case when surgery is not an option or difficult to operate)
  • Bradytherapy (doctors put small radioactive pellets in the body where the tumor is and then take them out a few days later)
When to consult a doctor?

You should consider making an appointment with the doctor if you have:

  • Lump that is increasing in size & is painful
  • Lump of any size located deep inside the muscle
  • Recurrence of lump that has already been removed.

Available Medicine for Soft tissue cancers

Fosfamide 1gm

Rs.1200

CCL

Ifosfamin 1gm

Rs.1200

Pharmadic

Ifosfamin 2gm

Rs.2000

Pharmadic