can anyone tell me about leiomyosarcoma?

Question

My mum has recentley been diagnosed has having Leiomyosarcoma in her breast. I believe the condition is rare and i am hoping someone on here can give me some more information, maybe someone with the same condition can get in touch and tell me what to expect. thanks

Answer 1

Leiomyosarcoma is cancer that consists of smooth muscle cells and small cell sarcoma tumor. The cancer begins in smooth muscle cells that grow uncontrollably and form tumors.Leiomyosarcomas can start in any organ that contains smooth muscle, but can be found in the walls of the stomach, large and small intestines, esophagus, uterus, or deep within the abdomen (retroperitoneal). But for perspective, smooth muscle cancers are quite rare: Less than 1% of all cancers are leiomyosarcomas. Very rarely, leiomyosarcomas begin in blood vessels or in the skin.Most leiomyosarcomas are in the stomach. The second most common site is the small bowel, followed by the colon, rectum, and esophagus.
Leiomyosarcomas do occur in the breast and uterus, but they are very rare. Uterine sarcomas comprise less than 1% of gynecological malignancies and 2% to 5% of all uterine malignancies. Of these numbers, leiomyosarcomas are found in only 0.1% of women of childbearing age who have tumors of the uterus. Less than 2% of tumors in women over age 60 who are undergoing hysterectomy are leiomyosarcomas.

The exact causes of leiomyosarcoma are not known, but there are genetic and environmental risk factors associated with it. Certain inherited conditions that run in families may increase the risk of developing leiomyosarcoma. High-dose radiation exposure, such as radiotherapy used to treat other types of cancer, has also been linked to leiomyosarcoma. It is possible that exposure to certain chemical herbicides may increase the risk of developing sarcomas, but this association has not been proven.
Causes and symptoms -
Since leiomyosarcoma can occur in any location, the symptoms are different and depend on the site of the tumor. When leiomyosarcoma begins in an organ in the abdomen, such as the stomach or small bowel, the physician may be able to feel a large lump or mass when he examines the abdomen. When leiomyosarcoma affects a blood vessel, it may block the flow of blood to the body part supplied by the artery. Commonly occurring symptoms include:

- painless lump or mass
- painful swelling
- abdominal pain
- weight loss
- nausea and vomiting

DIAGNOSIS

Depending on the location of the tumor, the doctor may order imaging studies such as x ray, computed tomography (CT) scan, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to help determine the size, shape, and exact location of the tumor. A biopsy of the tumor is necessary to make the definitive diagnosis of leiomyosarcoma. The tissue sample is examined by a pathologist (specialist in the study of diseased tissue).

Treatment

Treatment for leiomyosarcoma varies depending on the location of the tumor, its size and grade, and the extent of its spread. Treatment planning also takes into account the patient's age, medical history, and general health.

Leiomyosarcomas on the arms and legs may be treated by amputation (removal of the affected limb) or by limb-sparing surgery to remove the tumor. These tumors may also be treated with radiation therapy, chemotherapy, or a combination of both.

Generally, tumors inside the abdomen are surgically removed. The site, size, and extent of the tumor determine the type of surgery performed. Leiomyosarcomas of organs in the abdomen may also be treated with radiation and chemotherapy-.

Answer 2

well i have a tumor in my uterus its located within my endometrial wall its bengin and hopefully its that way when they take my uterus out in jan. but yes leiomyosarcoma tumors are rare . Leiomyosarcoma - By the time that leiomyosarcoma is diagnosed, often the cancer has metastasized. Unlike other soft tissue sarcomas, this metastasis usually affects the liver and the peritoneum first, instead of the lungs. The treatment for leiomyosarcoma most commonly involves surgery, but radiation therapy and chemotherapy are also sometimes utilized though they are ineffective against certain types of the disease.

Answer 3

My friend has it, and she has had 3 operations to remove tumors. She's been on chemotherapy before, but it was not effective at shrinking the tumors. It's such a rare cancer, there isn't much research being done on it. That said, there are doctors in Boston who know the most about it. I'm sorry but I can't think of the hospital. My friend's oncologist has been in contact with them, and they have been suggesting treatments so my friend didn't have to travel to Boston.

The disease seems to make a few tumors and then stop for a while. My friend has CAT scans every few months to make sure there are no new tumors growing.

Answer 4

Leiomyosarcoma is a type of sarcoma which is a neoplasm of smooth muscle. (When benign, it is called a leiomyoma.) Smooth muscle cells make up the involuntary muscles, which are found in most parts of the body: in uterus, stomach and intestines, walls of all blood vessels, and skin. Leiomyosarcoma is a very rare cancer. It makes up 7% of soft tissue sarcomas.
Please see the web pages for more details and images on Leiomyosarcoma.

Answer 5

According to my Medical dictionary it says that it is a sarcoma that contains large spindle cells of unstriated muscle. I checked the web and found this site: http://www.leiomyosarcoma.info/
Check this out and see what you can find. Good luck to you.

Answer 6

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leiomyosarcoma

Answer 7

http://www.mskfirst.org/general/default.html&w=leiomyosarcoma?gclid=CJ_Tj6HY9ogCFRihSQodLlQI4g