Ewing sarcoma is an uncommon kind of cancer that develops in the soft tissue surrounding the bones or in the bones themselves.
Ewing sarcoma can develop in any bone, however it typically starts in the pelvic and leg bones. Less frequently, it begins in the limbs, abdomen, chest, or other soft tissues.
Ewing sarcoma can develop at any age, however it is more frequent in children and teenagers.
The prognosis for those who have Ewing sarcoma has improved as a result of significant developments in the disease’s management. It is advised that patients be monitored for the rest of their lives to look out for any potential long-term effects of aggressive chemotherapy and radiation.
Symptoms
Ewing sarcoma symptoms and signs include:
Swelling, tenderness, or discomfort close to the affected area
A bone ache
Unaccounted for fatigue
Without a known cause, a fever
Shedding pounds without trying
Ewing’s Sarcoma types
Where the tumour develops is where you might have the type of Ewing’s sarcoma. It typically begins in the pelvis and progresses to the femur (or thigh bone). It can spread to other bones, bone marrow, and even essential organs including the lungs, heart, and kidneys, depending on where it begins. A few examples are:
87% of cases of Ewing’s sarcoma are bone tumours; they frequently affect the thigh bones, pelvis, ribs, or shoulder blades. But any bone could develop a tumour.
Tumour of the soft tissues (extra-osseous): These tumours affect the cartilage and muscles that surround your bones. The soft tissue of the arms, legs, head, neck, chest, and belly rarely contains it.
The tumour known as a peripheral primitive neuroectodermal tumour (pPNET) develops in the nerves and can be found throughout the body.
The Askin tumour is a particular variety of pPNET tumour that develops in the chest.
Causes
The exact cause of Ewing sarcoma is unknown.
Doctors are aware that when a cell experiences DNA alterations, Ewing sarcoma starts to form. The instructions that inform a cell what to do are encoded in its DNA. When healthy cells would typically perish, the alterations instruct the cell to reproduce swiftly and to continue to exist. The end consequence is an aberrant cell mass (tumour) that can invade and obliterate good bodily tissue. The malignant cells have the capacity to separate and disperse (metastasize) throughout the body.
The EWSR1 gene is the one most frequently affected by DNA alterations in Ewing sarcoma. Your cancer cells may be examined for mutations in this gene if your doctor suspects that you have Ewing sarcoma.
Tests and Diagnosis
Several tests are available to your doctor to determine whether you have Ewing’s sarcoma. If you do, they’ll also try to determine how far the tumour has migrated, if at all. Staging is the term for this.
Physical examination: Your doctor will begin by performing this, particularly looking for lumps, redness, and swelling near the sore regions.
X-rays: These produce a picture of a specific region of your body where a tumour is thought to be present. Your doctor can request additional imaging testing if the X-rays reveal any issues.
A bone scan can detect the presence of cancerous cells in your bones. One of your veins receives a little injection of radioactive dye. The dye will gather in the tumor-ridden bones. The doctor will be able to see where the radioactive dye has accumulated when you are lying down next to a bone scanner.
You lie still and flat on a surface for the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) test, which slides you into the MRI machine’s tube-like chamber. It builds a detailed, three-dimensional image of your internal organs using a magnetic field and radio waves.
During a PET scan, a technician injects a tiny amount of radioactive sugar into a vein as you are lying within the PET scanner. Because they use more sugar than healthy cells do, the cancer cells appear brighter throughout the scan.
Ewing’s sarcoma cannot be diagnosed with a blood test. However, a complete blood count, or CBC, measures your haemoglobin (a protein that transports oxygen), red blood cells, and white blood cells.
A biopsy is when a bit of your tissue is removed surgically or with a needle by your doctor. A microscope is used to examine the sample to determine whether it is malignant. You can use this to determine if you have Ewing’s sarcoma.
Treatments
Your level of treatment will vary depending on a number of factors. They consist of:
- How big your tumour is
- Where it canaltaronja.cat has been spotted
- Your general well-being
- You should discuss your preferences with your doctor.
Options for treatment include:
Chemotherapy is typically the first course of action. With this approach, cancer cells are killed and prevented from proliferating using medications. You can inject them directly into your bloodstream. Your doctor might combine chemotherapy with surgery and radiation, or use more than one type of chemotherapy at once.
Surgery: In an effort to stop the tumor’s spread, your doctor will try to remove it. If the tumour has spread widely, they may occasionally need to amputate an arm or a leg.
Radiation: To eliminate the cancer cells during this therapy, a technician will utilise X-rays and other forms of radiation. This can be accomplished either by sending tubes and needles directly into the tumour or by employing devices outside the body to give the dose.
You will still need to visit your doctor for years to come even if the treatment is successful. Even ten years after the initial diagnosis, Ewing’s sarcoma might recur.
Cure rates for children with locally contained cases of Ewing’s sarcoma can reach 80%. In cases where the tumour has spread, it is significantly lower. If you see symptoms in your child, it’s crucial to visit a doctor as soon as possible.
