Sarcoma - what is it, cancer or not?

Of course, everyone has heard about such terrible diseases as sarcoma and cancer. However, not many have an idea of ​​what it is, whether the sarcoma is cancer or not, what are the differences between these diagnoses. Let's try to understand these issues.

What is cancer?

Cancer is a malignant tumor that originates from epithelial cells that cover the internal cavities of various organs, or from the covering epithelium - skin, mucous membranes. The term "cancer" many people do not quite correctly identify with all kinds of malignant tumors, calling cancer of the lungs, bones, skin, etc. But, although almost 90% of malignant tumors are cancer, there are other varieties - sarcomas, hemoblastoses, etc.

The name "cancer" is associated with the appearance of a tumor resembling a cancer or crab. Neoplasm can be dense or soft, smooth or tuberous, it often and quickly metastasizes to other organs. It is known that predisposition to cancer is inherited, but also in its development can take such factors as radiation, the impact of oncogenic substances, smoking, etc.

What is a sarcoma?

Sarcomas are also called malignant tumors, but formed from immature connective tissue, which is characterized by active cell division. Because connective tissue is divided into several basic types (depending on what organs, formations, etc. it forms), the following main varieties are distinguished by sarcoma:

As a rule, sarcomas have the appearance of dense knots without clearly defined boundaries, which in a cut resemble the meat of fish and have a grayish-pink hue. For all sarcomas, a different period of growth is characteristic, such tumors differ in the degree of malignancy, propensity to germination, metastasis, recurrence, etc.

The origin of sarcoma is mainly associated with exposure to ionizing radiation, toxic and carcinogenic substances, certain chemicals and even viruses, as well as genetic factors.

What is the difference between sarcoma and cancer?

In addition to the fact that sarcomas and cancer tumors are formed from different types of tissues, sarcomas are characterized by the following symptoms:

Cancer and sarcoma treatment

The methods of treating these two types of malignant formations are similar. As a rule, surgical removal of the tumor is carried out together with surrounding tissues and lymph nodes in combination with radiation and chemotherapy . In some cases, surgery to remove cancer or sarcoma may be contraindicated (for example, in severe cardiovascular diseases) or ineffective (with extensive lesions and metastases). Then symptomatic therapy is performed to alleviate the patient's condition.

The prognosis of diseases is largely determined by the location of the tumor, its stage, the individual characteristics of the patient's body, the quality and timeliness of the treatment received. Patients are considered to be recovered if after the received treatment they live more than five years without relapses and metastases.