Focus falls on sarcoma, bone cancers in July
July is recognised as Sarcoma and Bone Cancer Awareness Month.“The awareness month aims to improve public knowledge about these cancers, support research efforts, and advocate for better resources and treatments for fellow Namibians affected by this diagnosis,” Cancer Association of Namibia (CAN) chief executive Rolf Hansen says.
“Sarcoma and bone cancers are rare and often aggressive forms of cancer that arise in the bones and soft tissues. The goal is to educate the public about the symptoms, treatment options, and the importance of early detection.”
He says that the prognosis for sarcoma patients varies depending on several factors, including the type of sarcoma, its location, stage at diagnosis, and how well it responds to treatment.
However, early detection and treatment are crucial for improving outcomes.
“Although not as common, in the past decade these rare bone cancers have affected about 360 per 100 000 Namibians (or 15 new cases per year), with older patients from the age of 65+ being most affected. Connective and soft tissue cancers average at 48 new cases per annum,” Hansen says.
What it is
Sarcoma is a type of cancer that forms in the bones and soft tissues, including fat, muscle, blood vessels, nerves, and fibrous tissues. Though rare, sarcoma poses a detection challenge, delaying timely treatment.
Bone sarcomas originate in bones, such as:
• Osteosarcoma: Typically affects long bones in arms and legs.
• Ewing sarcoma: Can occur in bones or soft tissues around bones.
• Bone cancer: Can start in any bone, often affecting the pelvis or long bones in arms and legs. It makes up less than 1% of all cancers, frequently diagnosed among teenagers. Early detection can result in a survival rate of 68.2%.
Soft tissue sarcomas develop in body’s soft tissues, including:
• Liposarcoma: Forms in fat.
• Leiomyosarcoma: Forms in smooth muscle.
• Angiosarcoma: Forms in blood vessels.
• Rhabdomyosarcoma: Forms in skeletal muscle.
• Fibrosarcoma: Forms in fibrous tissues.
Symptoms and risk factors
Symptoms: Lump or swelling, pain in the affected area, fatigue, and unexplained weight loss.
Risk factors:
• Inherited Disorders: Retinoblastoma, tuberous sclerosis, Werner syndrome.
• Exposure: Radiation therapy, chemicals like thorium dioxide, vinyl chloride, arsenic.
• Other conditions: Long-term lymphedema, Paget disease, Diamond-Blackfan anaemia.
• Bone sarcomas: Risk increased by prior radiation, anticancer drugs (alkylating agents), or genetic changes (retinoblastoma gene).
Diagnosis and treatment
A diagnosis is made by a combination of imaging studies (X-rays, CT scans, MRI) and biopsy (tissue sample analysis), while treatment includes:
• Surgery: Removal of tumour.
• Radiation therapy: High-powered beams (X-rays) to destroy cancer cells.
• Chemotherapy: Intravenous drugs to kill cancer cells.
• Limb salvage surgery: Replacing cancerous bone with metal.
• Amputation: For large or complex tumours.
For more information, contact CAN at [email protected] or 081 953 7740.