Fibrosarcoma is a rare form of soft tissue cancer where the proliferation of the cancer cells usually happens in the soft tissues that wrap around the tendons, ligaments and muscles.
Fibrous soft tissue is what keeps the body together; they comprise the tendons that attach muscles to bones and ligaments that connect bones. In the case of Fibrosarcoma, the malignant cells mainly develop in the fibrous soft tissue of the thighs, knees, arms and trunk. Being a slow-growing type of soft tissue cancer, it develops very slowly and doesn't show any symptoms until the tumour becomes quite large and presses on surrounding or other nearby organs.
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Types
There are two main types of Fibrosarcoma, which include:
- Infantile or Congenital Fibrosarcoma
- Adult-type Fibrosarcoma
Causes
Just like any other type of sarcoma, the distinct cause of Fibrosarcoma is yet to be discovered. However, clinical studies indicate that it usually happens when there are certain modifications or mutations in the DNA of the soft tissue cells that continuously make them grow abnormally in size and number without dying. This causes the abnormal cells to agglomerate leading to tumourous growths.
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Risk Factors
Some causative factors that increase the chances of Fibrosarcoma include:
Age: Although it can get detected in people of different age groups, it is mostly noticed in adults between the ages of 40 and 60
Gender: Men are more likely to get Fibrosarcoma than female
Previous Cancer Treatments: People who have received radiation therapy for any other form of cancer in the past have a higher risk of getting this type of cancer as well
Chemical Exposure: Long-term susceptibility to toxic chemicals like thorium dioxide, vinyl chloride and other carcinogens increases the incidence of developing this type of cancer
Lymphatic Damage: Suffering from an illness such as Lymphedema that has caused lymphatic damage heightens the risk of Fibrosarcoma
Other Conditions: people who are suffering from other health aberrations like Familial adenomatous polyposis, Nevoid basal cell carcinoma syndrome, Retinoblastoma, Li-Fraumeni syndrome, Neurofibromatosis type 1, Tuberous sclerosis or Werner syndrome are more at risk of developing Fibrosarcoma
Symptoms
Fibrosarcoma usually does not showcase any characteristic indications in the early stage. Symptoms in the advanced stage include:
- A visible painful lump or swelling under the skin tissue
- Intense pain, or continuous aching if the tumour presses on any nerves or muscle
- Unusual swelling
- Unexplained weight loss
Diagnosis And Treatment
If you discover any of the aforesaid signs or symptoms, do discuss them with an oncologist right away to get examined and treated at the initial stage. The doctor primarily does a thorough physical check-up to detect the presence of any lumps or masses on the bony areas of the body to know if it hurts, or pains, affirms the patient’s medical history and susceptibility to any carcinogenic exposures or cancer treatments in the past and conducts the following diagnostics
- Imaging procedures including CT-scan, MRI scan, X-ray, and Ultrasound are done to analyze the size of the tumour and look for symptoms in case the cancer has spread to other parts of the body
- Core needle biopsy to double-check the presence of malignant cells in the soft tissue
Treatment
The accessible treatment options for Fibrosarcoma primarily depend on the location and size of the tumour, the stage it is in and the overall health and capacity of the patient. This includes:
- Surgery
- Radiation therapy
- Chemotherapy
- Clinical trials
- Palliative care