We devote this article to one of the most common questions: how is cancer different from sarcoma? To begin with, it is worth paying attention to the fact that in the first and in the second case we are talking about a malignant neoplasm. To clarify, mortality from sarcoma is very high, but it is inferior to the number of deaths from cancer.
We invite you to become more familiar with one and the other disease. After reading this article to the very end, you can find out:
- how cancer differs from sarcoma;
- types of sarcoma;
- what are the signs of the disease;
- causes of sarcoma;
- how is the disease treated.
Crayfish
This section is devoted entirely to a disease called cancer. What it is? Cancer and sarcoma diseases are very similar. Many whose lives are not related to medicine mistakenly confuse them. Now we will analyze the features. Cancer is a malignant tumor that is dangerous to human life. It is based on a dangerous neoplasm consisting of malignant cells. What is a malignant neoplasm? This disease is characterized by uncontrolled cell division of various tissues. They are able to spread to healthy tissues and organs. The study of malignant neoplasms deals with a section of medicine called "oncology".
What is known about the disease at a given time? Very little. The cause of cancer is a genetic violation of the division and implementation of the basic functions of the cells. These disorders can occur due to transformation and mutation. If the immune system notices changes in the body and in the functioning of the cells in time, then trouble can be avoided, because the pathology stops developing. If the immune system missed the moment, then a tumor forms.
The probability of a cancerous tumor is affected by many factors, the most common of them:
- heredity;
- smoking;
- drinking alcohol;
- viruses;
- ultraviolet radiation;
- poor quality food.
Sarcoma
So sarcoma - what is it? In this section, we will try to tell you as much as possible about this disease. Sarcoma is, like cancer, a malignant neoplasm. It occurs in bone and muscle tissue. This is the difference between this disease and cancer. The latter can extend to absolutely any human organ.
Distinctive features of sarcoma are:
- very fast development;
- frequent relapses.
We draw your attention to the fact that the disease very often occurs in childhood. The reason for this phenomenon is quite simple to explain. As mentioned earlier, sarcoma occurs in bone and muscle tissue. And when does the active development of these connective tissue structures occur? Of course, in childhood.
So what is it, sarcoma? This is a malignant neoplasm in the bone or muscle tissue. Like cancer, sarcoma is an oncopathology, but its percentage among all cases is equal to one. That is, sarcoma is a rather rare occurrence, but very dangerous. Statistics say that almost eighty percent of all cases of sarcoma were found on the lower extremities. Pay attention to the fact that in terms of mortality this disease is second only to cancer.
Classification
In this section, we propose to analyze the types of sarcomas. In total there are more than a hundred. We propose to classify the disease according to several criteria. To begin with, all sarcomas are usually divided into two large groups:
- soft tissue damage;
- bone damage.
Next you will see a classification by the development mechanism. Only two types of sarcoma are distinguished here:
What is the difference? In the first case, the tumor grows from the tissues where the localization of the sarcoma occurs. These include, for example, chondrosarcoma. The secondary feature is that it contains cells that are not related to the organ where the tumor is located. Bright examples are:
- angiosarcoma;
- Ewing's sarcoma.
In the examples given, tumor localization is seen in the bones. But the cells that make up sarcoma do not belong to this species (these are other types of cells). In the case of angiosarcoma, a tumor is formed from vascular cells (blood or lymph cells).
The following classification is based on the type of connective tissue. A tumor may develop from:
- muscle (myosarcoma);
- bones (osteosarcoma);
- vascular cells (angiosarcoma);
- adipose tissue (liposarcoma).
The last sign of classification that I would like to mention is the maturity of the disease. According to this sign, it is customary to distinguish three groups:
- low grade;
- medium differentiated;
- highly differentiated.
Causes
This section will list the causes of sarcoma. These include:
- Damage. This is due to the fact that after a cut or some other injury, the active process of regeneration and division begins. The immune system can not always detect in time undifferentiated cells, which become the basis of sarcoma. What can provoke its development? It can be scars, fractures, foreign bodies, burns or operations.
- Some chemicals (asbestos, arsenic, benzene and other chemical components) can cause DNA mutations. As a result, the future generation of cells has an irregular structure and loses its basic functions.
- Radiation exposure can change the DNA of a cell, the next generation of which will be malignant. The danger threatens people who previously irradiated the tumor, the liquidators of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, and the employees of the x-ray departments of hospitals.
- Some viruses are also able to change the DNA and RNA of the cell. These include type 8 herpes virus and HIV infection.
- Rapid growth (more common in tall adolescent boys). At the time of puberty, the cells actively divide, so immature cells can appear. The most common sarcoma of the femur.
Signs of Sarcoma
Diseases such as oncology, sarcoma are similar in symptoms. In this section, we list the signs of pathology. They depend on the location of the tumor. Even at a very early stage, education can be seen, because the sarcoma is distinguished by its active development. Joint pains that cannot be removed with painkillers are also noted. In some cases, sarcoma can develop very slowly and do not show symptoms until several years.
With lymphoid sarcoma, there are:
- the formation of swelling in the lymph node (from two to thirty centimeters);
- pain is weak or absent;
- weakness appears;
- working capacity decreases;
- body temperature rises;
- sweating increases;
- the skin turns pale;
- rashes (allergic reaction to toxins) are possible;
- voice may change;
- shortness of breath appears;
- lips become bluish;
- possible lower back pain;
- the patient may lose weight, as profuse diarrhea appears.
Soft tissue sarcoma has the following symptoms:
- tumor formation;
- pain on palpation;
- the tumor does not have a clear outline;
- a large number of swelling and nodules can form on the skin (the purple color of the nodules in young people, brownish or purple in the elderly);
- the diameter of the skin nodules does not exceed five millimeters;
- when injuring formations, ulcers and bleeding may appear;
- itching is possible (an allergic reaction to toxins).
If a tumor has formed in the lungs, then the following symptoms are distinguished:
- dyspnea;
- diseases such as pneumonia, dysphagia and pleurisy are possible;
- bones become thicker;
- joint pain.
Please note that the tumor can compress the superior vena cava, then the following symptoms are observed:
- swelling of the face;
- bluish skin tone;
- expansion of superficial veins on the face and neck;
- nosebleeds.
Differences
Now let's answer the main question: how is cancer different from sarcoma? As mentioned earlier, both sarcoma and cancer are malignant neoplasms that arise as a result of abnormal functioning of cells. Diseases differ in that a cancerous tumor arises in a particular organ, and sarcoma can form anywhere in the human body. This is the difference between sarcoma and cancer. Please note that one and the other disease can metastasize and have a tendency to relapse.
Diagnostics
We answered the question of how cancer differs from sarcoma, now briefly about diagnosis. To identify the disease, they resort to the following methods:
- poll;
- laboratory research;
- histological studies.
In order to determine the location, resort to the help of x-ray, ultrasound, CT, MRI and other instrumental methods.
Treatment
It is important to note that there is virtually no difference in the treatment of sarcoma and cancer. Therapy in both cases consists of surgery, radiation and chemotherapy. In addition, the patient receives additional recommendations regarding diet.
Forecasts
The smaller the differentiation of cells, the more difficult it is for the patient to cure. This is due to the fact that an immature cell often gives metastases. However, modern drugs have significantly reduced the risk of death. In 90% of cases, correct and timely therapy significantly prolongs the life or completely cures the patient.