Many women never hear of sarcoma until they get it.
Sarcoma Awareness Month can teach women about rare gynecological
cancers — then give them hope and resources to survive.
The National Cancer Institute, the American Society of Clinical
Oncology, the American Association for Cancer Research and the American Cancer
Society all recognize July as Sarcoma Awareness Month.
But the White House and Congress have never made it official.
Once again, sarcoma nonprofits have a petition going, and we would love to have
your help.
Please add your name to the petition to officially designate July as
Sarcoma Awareness Month:
Sarcoma is a cancer of muscle, bone and other connective tissues.
It represents 20% of childhood cancer cases but only 1% in adults. It can arise
anywhere in the body at any age, from newborns on up.
In women, sarcoma can occur anywhere in the reproductive tract
although the uterus is the most common. The different types are:
1. Carcinosarcoma
(formerly known as malignant mixed mullerian tumor or MMMT). Sarcoma
specialists often don’t consider this a true sarcoma.
2. Leiomyosarcoma.
The Cancer Genome Atlas is expected to separate gynecologic leiomyosarcoma from
LMS found elsewhere in the body.
3. Endometrial
stromal sarcoma. It has been divided into low-grade, high-grade and
undifferentiated uterine sarcoma.
4. Adenosarcoma.
5. Embryonal
botryoides or rhabdomyosarcoma found in infants.
6. PEComa.
Risk factors include previous pelvic radiation and use of
Tamoxifen.
Women often are diagnosed first by an OB/GYN and may then be
referred to a gynecologic oncologist. Many also choose to see a medical
oncologist who specializes in sarcoma, too.
Sarcoma nonprofits can help women find specialists as well as
financial and emotional help. Let us help you!
—————
I’m a 15-year survivor of metastatic leiomyosarcoma that started
in my vagina and spread to my right lung. I volunteer for the Sarcoma Alliance,
Sarcoma Foundation of America, Imerman Angels and MD Anderson Cancer Center’s
MyCancerConnection. You can contact me at suziesiegel@tampabay.rr.com
 | ||||||
| Suzie Siegel is pictured here at SGO 2017 with Dr. Don Dizon at her table for the Sarcoma Foundation of America |
No comments:
Post a Comment