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Frequently Asked Questions about Ewing’s
sarcoma
What bones
are affected by Ewing's sarcoma?
The most frequent locations for the primary tumor
are the pelvis, femur (thigh bone), tibia / fibula (bones of
the lower leg), bones of the spine, ribs, and humerus (upper
arm). Other bones are less common; however, Ewing's sarcoma
can potentially arise in any of the 206 bones in the body. It
can also develop in the soft tissues without bone involvement.
My child
has been the victim of a Ewing’s sarcoma medical malpractice.
What should I do?
The best thing would be to consult a lawyer for
a free, no obligation consultation. Monheit Law takes certain
cases on a contingency basis which means that you pay nothing
up front or out-of-pocket. You would only pay a percentage of
what was gained on your behalf. For
a free professional consultation, click here.
Is Ewing's
sarcoma a childhood or an adult disease?
Approximately half of all people with Ewing's
sarcoma are under 15 years old at diagnosis. However, it is
also common in young adults. The peak ages are between 10 and
20. Ewing’s sarcoma is less common before the age of 5
and after the age of 30.
How is Ewing’s
sarcoma diagnosed?
If a bone tumor is suspected the doctor should
do a complete medical examination. This may include a blood
test because childhood bon cancer tumors can be associated with increased levels
of certain enzymes in the blood. MRI should be routinely used in the work-up of malignant tumors. MRI will show the full bony and soft tissue extent and relate the tumor to other nearby anatomic structures (e.g. vessels). The doctor may also recommend
X-rays and other bone scans. If X-rays and scans suggest that
a tumor might be present then a biopsy (removal of a sample
of tissue) will be performed. A pathologist will then examine
the cells to determine whether they are cancerous, and if so,
what type of cancer. Ewing's sarcoma is composed of small, round
blue cells; these can appear similar to other types of cancer
so special stains and other laboratory tests are needed to correctly
make the diagnosis.
Are
children given the same treatment for Ewing’s sarcoma
as adults?
There is no rationale for treating children and
adults differently; chemotherapy is usually the same. However,
children are thought to tolerate chemotherapy better than adults.
Also children can develop more severe delayed side effects from
radiation therapy, such as bone growth retardation. This is
one of the factors taken into account before deciding on the
type of local therapy given. Studies have shown similar results
in adults and children when they are treated with the same protocol.
Are my
relatives at risk?
Almost all Ewing's sarcoma childhood cancer tumors change their
genetic makeup. Normal human cells contain 23 pairs of chromosomes.
In Ewing's sarcoma tumors, a piece of chromosome 11 has moved
to chromosome 22 creating new DNA. This does not mean that the
disease is passed from parent to child. For genetic change to
pass from parent to child, it must be present in the sperm or
egg. The genetic change in Ewing's sarcoma childhood cancer tumors occurs in
the tumor cells only, not in the sperm or egg. Patients who
get Ewing's sarcoma did not inherit the disease from their parents.
Patients who survive Ewing's sarcoma and have children do not
pass on an increased risk of cancer to their children. Sibling
of patients with Ewing's sarcoma does not have an increased
risk for Ewing's sarcoma. And of course, cancer is not contagious.
What is
the Ewing’s family of childhood cancer tumors?
The Ewing’s family of childhood cancer tumors include Ewing’s tumor
of bone; extraosseus Ewing’s (tumor growing outside of
the bone); primitive neuroectodermal tumor (PNET), also known
as peripheral neuroepithelioma; and Askin’s tumor (PNET
of the chest wall). These childhood cancer tumors are rare diseases in which
malignant or cancerous cells are found in the bone and soft
tissues
Is primitive neuroectodermal
tumor (PNET) different than Ewing's sarcoma?
Peripheral primitive neuroectodermal tumors (PNET,
or more correctly pPNET) start in the bone or soft tissues.
Like Ewing's sarcoma they are composed of small-blue-round cells.
They differ from Ewing’s sarcoma because they show more
developed features of cells associated with the nervous system.
Both have a similar response to chemotherapy. Based on these
and other similarities Ewing's sarcoma and pPNET are regarded
as closely related members of the same family of childhood cancer tumors.
What are Askin's
childhood cancer tumors?
Askin’s Tumors are malignant round cell
tumors of the thoracopulmonary region (chest wall). Studies
have shown cell characteristics of Askin’s Tumors are
similar to those of Ewing’s sarcoma and primitive neuroectodermal
tumors (PNET), and that a common genetic feature (11;22 chromosomal
translocation ) is shared by these three. Findings suggest that
Askin’s Tumors, Ewing’s sarcoma, and PNET represent
different manifestations of a single tumor type (the Ewing’s
sarcoma family of tumors). Clinically, Askin’s present
as a mass in the periostium and / or soft tissue of the chest
wall. The treatment is local therapy (surgery and / or radiotherapy)
combined with systemic chemotherapy. The chemotherapy drugs
are generally the same as those used to treat Ewing’s
sarcoma / PNET.
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