A
sarcoma is a
cancer of the
bone,
cartilage,
fat,
muscle,
blood vessels, or other
connective or supportive tissue.
The term comes from a
Greek word meaning "fleshy growth." Bone
tumors (
osteosarcomas) are also called sarcomas, but are in a separate category because they have different clinical and microscopic characteristics and are treated differently. Osteogenic sarcoma or osteosarcoma is one of the most common childhood bone cancers.
Organizations such as the
Sarcoma Foundation of America are working to fund research towards a cure for sarcoma, while other patient-oriented organizations such as the
Sarcoma Alliance are working to educate
patients about the disease.
The most famous victim of this disease is
Terry Fox who was required to have a leg amputated as treatment. He subsesquently began heroic fundraising efforts towards medical research which enabled advances that dramatically improved the survivability of the ailment.
Types of sarcoma
External links
Category:Oncology
Category:Orthopedics
Category:Anatomical pathology
es:sarcoma
ja:肉腫
pl:Mięsak