Cancer in the Musculo-Skeletal System
There are Three Cancers most common to this Body System
If left untreated, these cancers can have extensive negative effects.
Most often, there is no way to avoid these types of cancer. They are (out of all other types of cancer) quite rare, and usually due to genetic disposition, not lifestyle choices. However, there are also viruses associated with cancer. The human papillomavirus (HPV) that causes genital warts is associated with carcinoma of the cervix, and the Epstein-Barr virus that causes infectious mononucleosis, is associated with Burkitt's lymphoma. Diseases or drugs that affect the immune system can also increase the risk for certain cancers. So, avoid unsafe sex, and be careful of drugs and viruses that can increase your risk.
These cancer, as mentioned above, are closely related to genetics
Fortunately there are also a number of ways to treat these cancers.
However, when these treatments fail, the mortality rate speak volumes why it is helpful to maintain a healthy lifestyle.
- Leukemia (Cancer of the blood that also effects bone tissue)
- Rhabdomyosarcoma (type of cancer, specifically a sarcoma (cancer of connective tissues), in which the cancer cells are thought to arise from skeletal muscle progenitors.)
- Leiomyosarcoma (a malignant cancer of smooth muscle.)
If left untreated, these cancers can have extensive negative effects.
- Leukemia if left untreated, can cause fatal complications in a very short period of time.
- Rhabdomyosarcoma can cause life-threatening tumors to develop Children with tumors arising in the one of the parameningeal sites (basically the sinuses, the middle ear, and the back of the throat) may complain for weeks or months of a stuffy nose, sometimes with nasal discharge; occasionally, a mass may be visible in the nostril or the back of the throat. Unlike sinus and throat infections, these tumors usually don’t spread to the lymph nodes in the neck. If they do, they usually are non-tender. If erosion of the skull base occurs, they may complain of headache or develop cranial neuropathies from infiltration or compression of affected cranial nerves.(Rhabdomyosarcoma)
- Leiomyosarcomas are aggressive tumors that are often difficult to treat. The prognosis is poor, with survival rates among the lowest of all soft tissue sarcomas
Most often, there is no way to avoid these types of cancer. They are (out of all other types of cancer) quite rare, and usually due to genetic disposition, not lifestyle choices. However, there are also viruses associated with cancer. The human papillomavirus (HPV) that causes genital warts is associated with carcinoma of the cervix, and the Epstein-Barr virus that causes infectious mononucleosis, is associated with Burkitt's lymphoma. Diseases or drugs that affect the immune system can also increase the risk for certain cancers. So, avoid unsafe sex, and be careful of drugs and viruses that can increase your risk.
These cancer, as mentioned above, are closely related to genetics
- Leukemia: variation in certain genes do play a part; close relatives of Leukemia patients have a seven times higher chance of developing the blood cancer compared to the general population; there have been 6 genes found with variations in their genetic sequences that are strongly associated with the development of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (most common form of leukemia)
- Rhabdomyosarcoma: cells of this tumor have lost a small piece of chromosome 11 that came from the mother and has been replaced by a second copy of that part of the chromosome from the father- it causes the insulin-like growth factor 2 (IGF2) gene chromosome 11 to be overactive; the IGF2 gene codes for a protein that may cause tumor cells to grow.
Fortunately there are also a number of ways to treat these cancers.
- Leukemia: chemotherapy, targeted therapy, biological therapy, radiation therapy, stem cell transplant; surgery in certain cases; all treatments depend on type of leukemia cells; goal of treatment is to destroy signs of leukemia in the body and make symptoms go away
- Leiomyosarcoma: chemotherapy; test tumor for specific proteins if needed; specialty treatment team in specialized center with expertise in sarcoma care- treatment plan is formulated based on input of surgeons, etc.
However, when these treatments fail, the mortality rate speak volumes why it is helpful to maintain a healthy lifestyle.
- Leukemia: estimated 1,240 cancer deaths among children in 2012- 1/3 of them from leukemia; overall mortality rate is around 45%
- Rhabdomyosarcoma: 23%, compared to 50% over 40 years ago; over 70% children are surviving; rate depends on initial tumor size, location, and appearance
- Leiomyosarcoma: 10 year rate: 49%; 5 year rate: 79%