Adult Sarcoma
Adult Soft Tissue/Bone Sarcoma -
Soft tissue/bone sarcomas are malignant tumors that may arise in any of the connective tissues (muscles, tendons, vessels that carry blood or lymph, joints, bones, nerves and fat). The peak age incidence is around 50 years. Sarcomas are a diverse range of tumors, they are named after the type of soft tissue/bone cell they arise from. Types of soft tissue/bone sarcomas include; alveolar soft-part sarcoma, angiosarcoma, fibrosarcoma, leiomyosarcoma, liposarcoma, malignant fibrous histiocytoma (MFH)*, hemangiopericytoma, mesenchymoma, schwannoma, peripheral neuroectodermal tumours, rhabdomyosarcoma, synovial sarcoma, osteosarcoma and other types.
Kaposi’s sarcoma is a type of cancer where malignant cells are found in the tissues under the skin, lining of the mouth, nose, and anus. Symptoms may include red or purple patches (lesions) on the skin and other parts of the body. Many (though not all) Kaposi’s sarcomas are AIDS related.
August 5, 2006
I have metastatic MFH* since 2000: (Eight Occurrences – as of 8-5-06)
(all surgery path reports were notated MFHs).
All the following were tumors:
1. Right shoulder/arm interface – limb-sparing surgery, with adjuvant external radiation.
2. Anterior right thigh – surgery, with adjuvant external radiation.
3. Left para-spinal muscles – surgery.
4. Anterior left thigh, on the femor bone – chemo trip (only Adriamycin) to see if it can kill the MFH. Chemo didn’t. 5. Recur – left para-spinal muscles – surgery, with adjuvant external radiation. (Recur because of no radiation – in the first instance - #3).
6. Upper lobe of my left lung – surgery (thorocoscopy/thorocotomy).
7. “Satellite” of the left para-spinal muscle – surgery, with adjuvant external radiation. Was due to collection of MFH semi-solid sac that appeared ~ 1 month later from #5.
8. (Just last month) – (3-month growth of) 2 cm. “presumably” MFH on the anterior left chest wall, projecting into the pleural space; this was a “left-over” piece from the thorocotomy (in #6. above). Radio-Frequency Ablation (RFA) performed for this tumor – to be imaged for effect – (CT) on/about Sep. 20, 2006. The RFA was a “piece-of-cake”, and I feel “great” since then.
If other tumors show up in percutaneous locations, I will explore the RFA procedure to apply to these. I’m tired of the “cut-and-take” jobs on my body.
So, you see that I am a sarcoma “survivor”, and at 75!
I am of the opinion (unfortunately), that rapid spread and recurs of sarcomas are more prevalent in people of age 50 or younger.
So, “youngsters”, if you have ANY symptoms (lumps, pain, etc. – anywhere on your body), go to a sarcoma center-of-excellence ASAP – to get the RIGHT diagnosis the FIRST time, and to start treatment – as per protocols.
With Hope & Life For All
Stan