During 2021, it is expected that the United States will see 13,460 new sarcoma diagnoses in adults and children. While there are over seventy types of sarcomas, the three most common to be diagnosed are Undifferentiated Pleomorphic Sarcoma, Liposarcoma, and Leiomyosarcoma. Becoming aware about sarcoma involves learning about risk factors as well as symptoms, care plans, and gathering firsthand knowledge and experience through testimonials.
Risk factors that raise the potential to develop sarcoma include inherited syndromes, radiation therapy for cancer, chronic swelling, exposure to chemicals, and exposure to viruses. Recently, the American Cancer Society addressed Covid-19 and cancer in its special section of Cancer Facts & Figures 2021. Multiple studies have been conducted; and depending on which results are read, Covid-19 is hinted to increase or not impact the chance of developing sarcoma. For that reason, Covid-19 is not designated as a salient risk factor for developing Sarcoma. Symptoms related to Sarcoma include a painful lump under the skin, bone pain, broken bones (often caused by brittleness), and weight loss. Cancer survivor Robert originally thought he had “torn something working out,” which can be synonymous with the bone pain symptom. Robert would find out three weeks later he had Ewing Sarcoma.
Plans are made for both cancer treatment as well as survivorship care. Because cancer treatment plans establish a regime of activities, monitoring them becomes routine. With remote-patient monitoring options like VitalCare, Sarcoma patients can provide their physicians with up-to-date data, ensuring their treatment plans precisely address their symptoms. The same routine can be established for survivorship care plans when Sarcoma enters remission. Appetite and weight changes are common secondary effects after treatment, and VitalCare’s nutrition and weight tracking capabilities can help monitor it. For cancer survivor Amy, her care plan involves revisiting her clinic every ninety days for lab work.
With July being Sarcoma and Bone Cancer Awareness Month, it is beneficial to empathize with those around us dealing with cancer. When one’s life is upended by chronic disease, support from friends and family becomes as essential as the actual treatment. Check in on the people around you now that you have an idea of what to look for.