Malignant tumors are divided into different groups.
One of them are sarcomas.
They are considered a particularly rare type of cancer.
Frankfurt – Cancer is a disease with many facets.
It is classified into different types depending on the occurrence and diagnosis.
The disease is usually accompanied by malignant tumors.
Depending on where they occur in the body, it is differentiated which type it is, as
reported
by fr.de.
Malignant tumors are divided into three categories: carcinomas, sarcomas and blastomas.
While carcinomas affect the skin or mucous membranes and blastomas arise during tissue or organ development, sarcomas usually develop in soft tissue.
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Sarcoma: Rare, malignant tumors can occur almost anywhere in the body
The German Cancer Aid describes sarcomas as rare, malignant tumors that grow in most cases in soft tissue such as connective, muscle and fatty tissue.
But bones can also be affected by sarcomas.
Although the tumors are very rare, they can occur almost anywhere in the body.
According to the Federal Ministry of Health, sarcoma diseases account for around 1 percent of all new cancer cases in adults and around 11 percent of all new cancer cases in children in Germany.
The number of new sarcoma cases in Germany is estimated at around 5,000 per year.
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Tissue of a melanosarcoma of the skin, microscopic section, 400x magnification
© Imago
Tumor disease sarcoma: an overview of the symptoms
Most sarcomas initially cause a painless swelling or lump.
This can cause a feeling of tension in the affected area.
Pain can only occur when the sarcoma affects nerves.
Bone sarcomas can cause symptoms such as joint pain or joint stiffness, and the tumor can also cause a bone fracture.
According to the Ministry of Health, there are no typical complaints and symptoms of sarcomas, which is why they are often recognized late.
If those affected notice swelling that lasts longer than four weeks, a doctor should be consulted, according to the Ministry of Health.
Accordingly, specific swellings should also be clarified if the following factors occur:
The swellings are deeper
Diameter is five centimeters or more
The swelling causes pain
The size increases
"The probability of a malignant disease is high if all these characteristics are present," emphasizes the ministry.
Risk factors for sarcoma: what you should know about the type of cancer
In most cases, no exact cause for the development of a sarcoma can be found.
However, according to the Ministry of Health, the following risk factors are generally known:
Sarcomas can occur more frequently in rare genetic syndromes
After radiation therapy, a sarcoma can occur in isolated cases at the irradiated area
The well-known risk factors for cancer such as diet or lifestyle factors such as smoking or alcohol have no known influence on the development of sarcoma.
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Editor's note:
The information given in this article does not replace a visit to a doctor.
Only experts can make the right diagnosis and initiate appropriate therapy.
List of rubrics: © Imago