Sarcoma – causes, side effects and treatments at NaturalPedia.com

Wednesday, June 27, 2018 by Michelle Simmons

Sarcoma is a type of cancer that starts in the bone or in the soft tissues of the body, such as cartilage, fat, muscle, blood vessels, fibrous tissue, or other connective or supportive tissue. There are different types of sarcoma, depending on the location of the tumor. These include:

Undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma – Previously referred to as malignant fibrous histiocytoma, this tumor is most often found in the arms or legs but can also be found at the back of the abdomen.
Gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) – This type of sarcoma affects specialized neuromuscular cells of the gut.
Liposarcoma – This sarcoma is the sarcoma of fat tissue.
Leiomyosarcoma – This affects smooth muscle in organ walls.
Synovial sarcomas – These are usually found around a joint in the arms or legs.
Malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor – Also known as neurofibrosarcoma, it affects the protective lining of the nerves.
Rhabdomyosarcoma – This forms in muscle and is a childhood cancer. Overall, rhabdomyosarcoma is rare. However, it is a relatively common tumor in children.
Angiosarcomas – These occur in the cells of the blood or lymph vessels.
Fibrosarcomas – These typically develop in the limbs or on the trunk, forming from fibroblasts, the most common cell type in connective tissue.

Most sarcomas do not have known causes. However, there are factors that may increase the risk of developing sarcoma. These include previous radiation therapy, genetics, immune system abnormalities, lymphedema, and chemicals.

Known symptoms of sarcoma

One of the signs of sarcoma is a lump that has grown over time, mostly on the arm or leg. The lump may or may not hurt. When sarcomas grow in the back of the abdomen, the symptoms often come from other problems the tumor is causing. They may cause blockage or bleeding of the stomach or bowels. They can press on nerves, blood vessels, or nearby organs. They can grow large enough for the tumor to be felt in the belly. In some cases, tumors can be painful. Although rare, sarcomas can occur in the chest or in the head or neck.

Sarcoma may lead to complications, such as lymphedema, bleeding, hematoma formation, brachial plexus injuries, and cosmetic disfiguration.

Body systems harmed by sarcoma

The body systems harmed by sarcoma include the cardiovascular, muscular, skeletal, and the nervous systems. It affects the whole body as it is a disease of the entire body.

List of foods or nutrients that may prevent sarcoma

There is no information on what foods or nutrients exactly prevent sarcoma. However, there are foods that help fight cancer. These include berries, grapes, tomatoes, broccoli, cruciferous vegetables, garlic, tea, flaxseed, legumes, whole grains, and dark-green leafy vegetables.

Treatments, management plans for sarcoma

Conventional treatments for sarcoma include surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy. One of the alternative treatments for sarcoma is the adherence to an organic, mostly plant-based diet eliminating all added sugar and refined white flour products.