jadetinker42 said:Hello everyone. Sending my very best wishes to those currently fighting any form of tumor;
I have a question, if anyone here happens to have some experience to share;
A coworker’s daughter (born in 1982) was diagnosed last year with the following cancer:
Osteosarcoma of the right femur
Pathological fracture of the distal part of the right femur.
PHD: High-grade malignant mesenchymal tumor with destructive growth. Differential diagnosis considers osteosarcoma with elements suggestive of malignant fibrous histiocytoma.
Just one quick correction—technically, this isn't a carcinoma (which refers to malignant tumors originating from epithelial cells). This specific type of tumor is called a sarcoma, though like carcinomas, it is absolutely a malignant tumor. Sarcomas are malignant growths that develop in connective tissue, meaning they attack the bones (the most well-known type), muscles, fat, veins, tendons, and so on. Generally speaking, sarcomas are rarer and tend to develop in children and younger people. There are exceptions, of course—as with almost all types of cancer—so they can appear in older adults too.
The real issue with sarcoma is that because they are less common, they are frequently misdiagnosed. There just isn't enough clinical research being done, which means we lack those "smart," targeted drugs available for other cancers. Furthermore, sarcomas (much like certain other forms of cancer) can be incredibly aggressive and prone to drug resistance. Surgery remains the best treatment option. However, sarcomas don't really have specific markers or unique symptoms; because of that, they are often—very often—discovered only after they've grown large enough to make complete removal difficult.
Since my husband battled a soft tissue sarcoma, I’ve become somewhat obsessed with learning everything I can about these types of tumors.