How is cancer different from sarcoma? Causes and treatment of cancer and sarcoma

We devote this article to one of the most common questions: how does cancer differ from sarcoma? To begin with, it is worth paying attention to the fact that both in the first and in the second case it is a malignant neoplasm. We will clarify that mortality from sarcoma is very high, but it is inferior to the number of deaths from cancer.

We suggest that you get acquainted with one and the other disease in more detail. After reading this article to the very end, you can find out:

• Than cancer differs from sarcoma;
• Types of sarcoma;
• What are the signs of the disease;
• Causes of sarcoma;
• How to treat the disease.

Cancer

This section we fully devote to a disease called cancer. What it is? Cancer and sarcoma are very similar. Many, whose life is not connected with 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 malignant neoplasm? This disease is characterized by uncontrolled division of cells of various tissues. They can spread to healthy tissues and organs. The study of malignant neoplasms deals with the division of medicine called "oncology".

What is known about the disease at this time? Very little. The cause of cancer development is the genetic violation of division and realization of the basic functions of cells. These disorders can occur due to transformation and mutation. If the immune system in time notices changes in the body and in the functioning of cells, then troubles can be avoided, because pathology stops its development. If the immune system missed the moment, then a tumor is formed.

The probability of cancer is influenced by many factors, the most common of them:

• heredity;
• smoking;
• The use of alcoholic beverages;
• Viruses;
• ultraviolet radiation;
• Poor-quality food.

Sarcoma

So, sarcoma - what is it? In this section we will try to tell you about this disease as much as possible. Sarcoma is, like cancer, a malignant neoplasm. It occurs in the bone and muscle tissues. This is the difference between this disease and cancer. The latter can spread absolutely to any human body.

Distinctive features of sarcoma are:

• Very rapid development;
• Frequent relapses.

We draw your attention to the fact that the disease very often occurs in childhood. The reason for this phenomenon can be explained quite simply. As mentioned earlier, sarcoma occurs in the bone and muscle tissues. And when is the active development of these connective tissue structures? Of course, in childhood.

So, what is this sarcoma? This malignant neoplasm in bone or muscle tissue. Like cancer, sarcoma is an oncopathology, but its percentage among all cases is equal to one. That is, the sarcoma is a rare occurrence, but very dangerous. Statistics say that in almost 80 percent of all cases, sarcoma was found on the lower limbs. Pay attention to the fact that in terms of mortality, this disease is second only to cancer.

Classification

In this section, we offer to disassemble species of sarcoma. In total there are more than a hundred. We propose to classify the disease on several grounds. To begin with, all sarcomas are divided into two large groups:

• Soft tissue damage;
• Damage to the bone.

Then you will see the classification of the mechanism of development. There are only two types of sarcoma:

• Primary;
• Secondary.

What is the difference? In the first case, the tumor grows from tissues where the localization of the sarcoma occurs. To such, for example, the chondrosarcoma concerns. The secondary feature is that it contains cells that are not related to the organ where the tumor is located. Strong examples are:

• Angiosarcoma;
• Ewing's sarcoma.

In the examples given, tumor localization is seen in the bones. But the cells that form sarcoma do not belong to this species (these are other types of cells). In the case of angiosarcoma, the tumor is formed from vascular cells (blood or lymphatic).

The following classification is based on the principle of the type of connective tissue. A tumor can develop from:

• Muscles (myosarcoma);
• Bones (osteosarcoma);
• Cells of blood vessels (angiosarcoma);
• Adipose tissue (liposarcoma).

The last sign of classification, which I would like to mention, is the maturity of the disease. According to this feature, it is customary to distinguish three groups:

• Low-differentiated;
• Medium-differentiated;
• Highly differentiated.

Causes

This section will list the causes of the sarcoma. To such it is possible to carry:

• Damage. This is due to the fact that after a cut or some other injury, an active process of regeneration and division begins. The immune system can not always detect undifferentiated cells in time, which become the basis of the sarcoma. What can provoke its development? It can be scars, fractures, foreign bodies, burns or surgeries.
• Some chemicals (asbestos, arsenic, benzene and other chemical components) can cause DNA mutation. As a result, the future generation of cells has an irregular structure and loses its basic functions.
• Radioactive irradiation can change the DNA of a cell, the next generation of which will be malignant. The danger threatens people who have previously irradiated the tumor, liquidators of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, employees of X-ray departments of hospitals.
• Some viruses are also capable of altering DNA and RNA cells. These include the herpesvirus of the eighth type and HIV infection.
• Rapid growth (more common in tall adolescent boys). At the time of puberty, cells actively divide, so immature cells can appear. The most common sarcoma of the femur.

Symptoms of sarcoma

Such diseases as oncology, sarcoma are similar in symptomatology. In this section, we list the signs of pathology. They depend on the location of the tumor. Even at a very early stage, you can see education, because the sarcoma is notable for its active development. Also, there are pains in the joints, which can not be removed with anesthetics. In some cases, the sarcoma can develop very slowly and signs do not apply 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 nonexistent;
• Weakness appears;
• Decreased efficiency;
• The body temperature rises;
• Increased sweating;
• The skin becomes pale;
• Possible rashes (an allergic reaction to toxins);
• Can change the voice;
• Appears shortness of breath;
• Lips acquire a bluish tinge;
• Pain in the lower back is possible;
• The patient can lose weight, as there are abundant diarrhea.

Soft tissue sarcoma has the following symptoms:

• Formation of tumors;
• Soreness in palpation;
• The tumor does not have a clear outline;
• The skin can form a large number of swelling and nodules (purple color of nodules in young people, brownish or purple - in the elderly);
• The diameter of the skin nodules does not exceed five millimeters;
• When traumatizing the formation, sores and bleeding may appear;
• Itching is possible (allergic reaction to toxins).

If the tumor is formed in the lungs, then the following signs are distinguished:

• dyspnea;
• Possible diseases such as pneumonia, dysphagia and pleurisy;
• Thickened bones;
• joint pain.

Note that the tumor can squeeze the upper vena cava, then the following symptoms are observed:

• Swelling of the face;
• Bluish skin tone;
• Expansion of superficial veins on the face and neck;
• Bleeding from the nose.

Differences

And now we will answer the main question: how does cancer differ from sarcoma? As already mentioned earlier, both sarcoma and cancer are malignant neoplasms that arise as a result of malfunctioning of cells. Diseases differ in that a cancer develops in a particular organ, and the 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 about how cancer differs from sarcoma, now briefly about the diagnosis. To identify the disease resort to the following methods:

• interview;
• laboratory research;
• Histological studies.

In order to determine the location of localization, they resort to 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 is the operation, radiation and chemotherapy. In addition, the patient receives additional recommendations regarding the diet.

Forecasts

The less the differentiation of cells, the more difficult it is for a patient to be cured. This is due to the fact that an immature cell often produces metastases. However, modern drugs have significantly reduced the risk of death. In 90% of cases, correct and timely therapy significantly prolongs life or completely cures the patient.