SARCOMA FACTS AND AWARENESS
Sarcoma is a very dangerous cancer
What is sarcoma?
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It is a cancer of the connective tissues, such as nerves, muscles, cartilage, joints, bone, or blood vessels. |
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It can arise anywhere in the body, frequently hidden deep in the limbs. |
How prevalent are sarcomas?
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About 1% of all adult cancers are sarcomas making it a “rare” cancer. |
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BUT between 15-20% of all CHILDREN’S cancers are sarcomas. 1 out of 5, not so “rare”. |
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Almost 5 new cases of childhood sarcoma will be diagnosed every day in the U.S. Of these, only slightly more than half of the patients will survive. There are hundreds of thousands of patients and their families struggling with sarcoma world wide. |
How are sarcomas treated?
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When possible, sarcoma patients have surgery to remove the cancer. |
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Surgery is often combined with chemotherapy and/or radiation. |
Why are sarcomas dangerous?
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They are often misdiagnosed. Sometimes, particularly with children (age 1-20) they are thought to be SPORTS INJURIES. |
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When they are diagnosed, they may be large and difficult to remove surgically and they may have metastasized. |
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Many sarcomas resist current treatments. |
There are over 50 types of sarcoma. Some of the most common are:
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