Definition and Facts
Liposarcoma is a rare form of cancer that only occurs in about one percent of newly diagnosed cancer patients. There are 75 different forms of soft-tissue sarcomas, and Liposarcoma is the most common form of this type of disease. Around 2,000 new cases of liposarcoma occur in the U.S. each year, and most of these cases involve middle-aged adults between 40 and 60 years of age. …show more content…
For instance, the limbs will have a decrease in the range of motion if they are affected, or a person may suffer from excessive coughing and breathlessness if their chest is affected. If a woman has liposarcoma in the uterus area, she may develop excessive vaginal bleeding and suffer from pain in the pelvis and lower abdominal areas.
Causes
Cancer researchers do not know what causes liposarcoma. People do not experience any symptoms early on after developing this form of cancer, so it difficult to trace any behavioral or environmental factors that may contribute to the development of this disease. Some people believe an injury may cause liposarcoma, but scientists have yet to make this connection. Scientist have recognized several risk factors that make some people more likely to develop this type of cancer. Patients who are given radiation therapy to treat another cancer may develop this disease, but it may take up to ten years between the time the radiation therapy ends and the growth of a liposarcoma tumor. A family history of cancer or genetic defect syndroms like neurofibromatosis, Gardner syndrome, Li-Fraumeni, retinoblastoma, and Werner syndrome can all be contributing factors in developing liposarcoma. A damaged lymph system and exposure to certain chemicals like vinyl chloride, dioxin, and herbicides