Fibrosarcoma: Causes, Symptoms, Treatment, Surgery, Prognosis, Recovery, Home Remedies

Fibrosarcoma is a tumor.¹ Fibrosarcoma can occur as a primary or even a secondary tumor of the bone or as a tumor of soft-tissue mass. There are 2 major types of fibrosarcoma which are primary fibrosarcoma and secondary fibrosarcoma. The fibrosarcoma of primary type is fibro-blastic malignancy which generates different quantities of collagen which is either peripheral which emerges from periosteum or central which originates inside the medullary canal. The fibrosarcoma of secondary type originates later to radiotherapy to a soft tissue or an area of bone. Secondary type of fibrosarcoma is also hostile and does not have good prognosis.

Similar to all other types of sarcomas the prognosis/outlook of fibrosarcoma depends on many factors which includes the origin place of the fibrosarcoma tumor, the size of it, the histologic grade of fibrosarcoma tumor, existence of metastatic ailment for example metastases of the pulmonary type. All these components are taken into consideration and they are carefully evolved and the staging is decided. The staging is used to decide the rate of success of treatment, and also help in prevention of spreading of the disease.

Fibrosarcoma, like other soft-tissue sarcomas, has no definite cause. Current research indicates that many sarcomas are associated with genetic mutations. The more common genetic defects include allele loss, point mutations, and chromosome translocations.

The first symptom of fibrosarcoma is usually pain, but can however grow larger before the pain is noticed.² The part affected by fibrosarcoma also determines the type of symptoms shown. In the lungs, fibrosarcoma may cause swelling, benevolence, and may be a lump may be visible. If fibrosarcoma affects the lungs it may result to breathlessness and if it also affects the abdomen it may result to nausea or even vomiting. Other symptoms may include dilated blood vessels, limited warmth, neurological and vascular changes and pathological fractures. These are very common symptoms of illnesses and if any is noticed you should consult a doctor for a checkup.

Amongst rare cancers is the soft tissue fibrosarcoma which has no exert cause but have a number of risk factors that are not familiar with many people. Growing older increases the chances of getting the cancer especially over 65 years old. Factors that could increase the risk of fibrosarcoma include:

• Radiotherapy while treating other cancers can be a risk factor for fibrosarcoma.
• Environmental radiation.
• Earlier cancer infection.
• Limb swelling due to lymphedema.
• HIV/AIDS is also a risk factor for fibrosarcoma.
• Umbilical hernia when being born.
• Overweight.
• Chemicals like chlorophenols and vinyl chloride can be a factor of risk for fibrosarcoma.
• Rare genetic conditions like retinoblastoma.

Despite the few ways involved in treating the fibrosarcoma each method used has its own complications involved. Fibrosarcoma complications include bone fracture and osteomyelitis. Also the use of chemotherapy has its own complications and side effects like anorexia, bone marrow damage (anemia, low platelet count and low white blood cells count), diarrhea and constipation, excessive bleeding, loss of hair, the heart may fail, reduced immunity, sores on the mouth, nausea and vomiting and weight loss. Radiotherapy also has its own complications like other cancers, retarded growth of children bones, infertility, fatigue, weight loss, rashes, nausea and vomiting.

To diagnose fibrosarcoma, it all begins with its history and physical examination. Some of the tests used to determine fibrosarcoma include:

• Alkaline phosphates of blood levels which may be elevated and can be used for diagnosis of fibrosarcoma.³
• Calcium levels in the blood which may also may also be elevated.
• Serum SGOT (serum glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase) may also be elevated.
• Bone x-rays which is usually the first test to determine bone cancer.
• Bone biopsy which involves sampling the bone cells to determine the presence of cancer.
• Nuclear bone scan which easily detects abnormal areas of the bone.
• CT scanning which shows bone abnormalities is a way to diagnose fibrosarcoma.
• MRI scanning gives details of soft tissues and can be utilized to diagnose fibrosarcoma.

Small localized fibrosarcomas are mainly treated with surgery and only involve radiotherapy if your surgeon doesn’t completely remove the sarcoma with a wide healthy margin. Radiotherapy stops the return of cancer. A chemotherapy or radiotherapy is done before surgery if the cancer is large but has not spread. This helps reduce fibrosarcoma to avoid much surgery. However it is a process used only on some fibrosarcoma as some don’t respond appropriately and unlikely to reduce. If the cancer has spread to parts like the liver, surgery is used to remove areas of spread of fibrosarcoma. This keeps the cancer under control longer.

Main treatment for removal of cancer is usually an operation for most fibrosarcoma of soft tissues. Surgery is preferred to remove as much cancer growth as possible and that consists of even the surrounding healthy tissues. This assures removal of all the fibrosarcoma. The border where a healthy tissue is removed is called a healthy margin and makes the cancer unlikely to affect that area again. However the healthy tissue removed is usually very little so that the surgery process has a small impact on the patient. It usually used to handle stages 1 to 3 of a developed cancer.

Most people prefer the use of traditional therapy with complementary methods for treating fibrosarcoma. This often improves the tolerance of the side effects and symptoms and also enriches the life quality. American cancer society however recommends the patients who prefer alternative treatment methods to always consult their doctors to ensure that the method chosen will safely supplements their traditional therapy. Some of this complementary cancer therapies use includes:

• Yoga.
• Meditation.
• Religious practices and prayers.
• Music therapy.
• Art therapy.
• Massage therapy.
• Aromatherapy.

One cannot change the fact that you had fibrosarcoma. Instead one can only change the lifestyle by making choices that can help you stay healthy and feel better than you can and look in your future life in new ways by thinking of how to improve your health over long term. This can be eating better and getting more exercise. One can also give up on alcohol and tobacco and will make you healthier. Eating better is harder especially during and after fibrosarcoma treatment. Fibrosarcoma treatment changes the sense of taste and nausea becomes a problem. If treatment cause weight changes or taste problems you should try and cope with that as it gets better over time.

People with localized soft tissue fibrosarcoma generally usually have a very good prognosis and with the cure rate high. Main feature of a perfect prognosis is a cancer that’s completely removed by surgery and usually has not spread beyond the margins of the cancer. However children tend to have a much better prognosis/outlook for fibrosarcoma compared to adults for both localized cancers and those that have spread.

Recovery from fibrosarcoma is usually not possible if the cancer has developed and cannot be cured or controlled when advanced. You should be in touch with your doctor in order to know about the progress of your disease. Your doctor can provide you the details about recovery period and healing time for the initial stages of fibrosarcoma.

There is no anyway known to prevent fibrosarcoma. However, it seems that HIV infection increases the risk of getting fibrosarcoma or any other sarcoma and therefore, one should try as much as possible to avoid any kind of behavior that would lead to a HIV infection. One should practice safer sex by using a condom unless having visited a (Voluntary counselling and testing) VCT to know ones status. Also you should avoid the use of illegal drugs mostly the injecting ones. If to do so avoid sharing the needle.

• If the work you do exposes you to substances that would result to soft tissue sarcomas, you should always use protective equipments to reduce exposure.
• Preventing fibrosarcoma can be done by avoiding chemical carcinogens such as alpha-naphthylamine, carbon tetrachloride and benzene. Moreover you can prevent fibrosarcoma development by minimizing exposure to penetrating radiation like x-rays and radioactive elements. The field of medicine has been revolutionized by the use of medical x-rays that are used to detect and treat diseases of different types.
• Mostly, the advantages of using the medical X-rays are outdone by the disadvantages due to the risks taken. However most fibrosarcoma develop in people with unknown risk factors and therefore makes it impossible at that time to prevent it at most cases.

Some of the home remedies to care for fibrosarcoma include:

• Following the exercise plan that is given by your doctor.
• You should be subsequent to your fibrosarcoma diet where good nutrition boosts immune system and helps make treatment effective and is a great home remedy.
• You should take calcium and vitamin D supplements.
• The medication should be taken as directed.
• You should want to know much about the fibrosarcoma. The more you know about fibrosarcoma, the better it is to manage it.
• You can create a support group with friends or family members.
• Non steroidal anti-inflammatory medication for pain is a good home remedy for fibrosarcoma.
• Acetaminophen for pain can also be used as a home remedy for fibrosarcoma.

Whenever one ignores the personal health decisions by leaving them to your doctors, relatives or families it becomes difficult to control fibrosarcoma.
Instead to control the fibrosarcoma and health you should:

• Take responsibility of your health to better cope with fibrosarcoma.
• Make a good partnership with your doctor.
• Learn to make the perfect decision concerning your health.

What you need to know for better coping with fibrosarcoma:

• Educate yourself concerning the disease of fibrosarcoma.
• You should learn to separate facts from assumptions for better coping with fibrosarcoma.
• You should be careful about your health information sources.

Regular physical activities play a big role in helping one’s body lower the risk of getting fibrosarcoma and also having other benefits of health. Any patient subjected to cancer should keep in mind that exercise can and does improve your physical and emotional health. It also improves your cardiovascular fitness which makes the heart fit for effective circulation. Combined with a healthy diet, exercise helps one to get and stay at a healthy weight. Exercise makes your muscles stronger to avoid fatigue and thus helps one to have more energy. It helps lower anxiety and depression and makes one feel happier and stress relieved. It also increases ones confidence by making one feel proud and better about oneself.

Studies to determine effectiveness of yoga as a complementary intervention for fibrosarcoma have been and inconclusive suggesting none to some and others suggesting it reduces the risk factors and aid in a patient’s healing process psychologically.

The use of multiple medicines or different types of radiation therapies for fibrosarcoma treatment may affect the sufferers’ teeth, salivary glands and mouth. Such effects make it hard to chew, talk, eat or even swallow food. This makes the use of braces important to cub these after effects of the treatment.

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