Liposarcoma

Liposarcoma is a cancer that occurs in fat tissue. This cancer can appear in fat tissue in all parts of the body, but most often appears in the arms , legs , and abdomen.  

Liposarcoma is a rare cancer. When it occurs, this cancer is more often experienced by people with an age range of 50-65 years, and rarely occurs in children. Liposarcoma is also more often experienced by men than women.

Causes of Liposarcoma

Liposarcoma occurs due to genetic mutations (changes) in fat tissue. The mutation causes the growth of cells that continue to divide until they form a tumor. Even so, it is not yet known for sure what causes this mutation.

There are a number of factors that are thought to cause a person to be more at risk of suffering from liposarcoma, namely:

• Exposed to chemicals suspected to cause cancer, such as vinyl chloride (plastic manufacturing material), arsenic , dioxin (smoke from burning waste), as well as insecticides and herbicides
• Have undergone radiotherapy to treat cancer
• Having a history of liposarcoma or other cancers in the family

Symptoms of Liposarcoma

At first, liposarcoma sufferers may not feel symptoms, but over time, the tumor will grow and cause certain symptoms.

Symptoms of liposarcoma can vary, depending on the location where the cancer is formed. Liposarcoma that appears in the arms and legs can cause lumps under the skin layer, and cause pain, swelling, and decreased function of the arms or legs.

Unlike liposarcoma in the arms and legs, liposarcoma that forms in the abdomen can cause the following complaints:

• Abdominal pain and cramps
• Abdominal swelling
• Constipation
• Feeling full faster than usual
• Difficulty breathing
• Blood appears in the stool
• Vomit blood

When should you go to the doctor?

Ask your doctor if you find a lump on your body. The lump can be a sign of liposarcoma or other diseases. Also consult a doctor if you experience symptoms similar to those of liposarcoma.

If you are affected by liposarcoma, check yourself with a doctor routinely to monitor the progress of the disease and get the right treatment.

Diagnosis of Liposarcoma

At the initial stage of diagnosis, the doctor will ask the patient's symptoms and perform a physical examination of the lumps that appear on the surface of the skin.

After that, the doctor will perform several supporting examinations to diagnose liposarcoma, namely:

• Scans The doctor will ask the patient to undergo a scan, such as an X - ray , CT scan , and MRI. This examination will provide a clear picture of the size and spread of the liposarcoma.
  
• Biopsy
  In this procedure, the doctor will take part of the tumor tissue as a sample to be examined in the laboratory

Liposarcoma treatment

Liposarcoma treatment is based on its location and stage (malignancy level).

Treatment methods include:

• Operation
  Operation is performed to remove the entire cancerous tissue. Surgery is the most commonly used method to treat liposarcoma.
• Radiotherapy
  This procedure is performed by using special rays to kill cancer cells. Radiotherapy can also be used to shrink the size of the tumor before it is removed
• Chemotherapy
  Chemotherapy is done to kill cancer cells with drugs. Chemotherapy can be done before or after surgery, and is sometimes done together with radiotherapy.

Complications of Liposarcoma

Liposarcoma is a malignant tumor that can spread to other parts of the body, such as tissues and vital organs around the tumor. In addition, liposarcoma in the arm or leg can increase the risk of the sufferer undergoing an amputation procedure.

Prevention of Liposarcoma

Liposarcoma can be prevented by avoiding the triggering factors, namely:

• Avoid exposure to smoke pollutants, insecticides, arsenic poisons, and herbicides
• Use special protective equipment when working in agriculture or at risk of exposure to chemicals
• Stop smoking
• Do not burn plastic waste
• Living a healthy lifestyle
• Undergo routine health checkups