Ewing's sarcoma, one of the rarest types of cancers, most commonly arises in bones or in the soft tissue, including cartilage or the soft tissue around the bones. Children and young adults between the ages of 10 and 20 are mostly affected with this disease. Although this is a rare kind of cancer, there needs to be much awareness regarding Ewing's sarcoma because the early diagnosis and proper treatment will make all the difference in quality of life and improved survival rates for the children. We reached out to Dr Rajeev Agarwal, Senior Director, Breast Cancer, Cancer Care, Medanta, Gurugram to understand more about this cancer type.
Symptoms of Ewing’s Sarcoma
Dr Agarwal shared the following are some of the common signs that can help in early detection and treatment of Ewing's sarcoma:
- Pain and Swelling: Pain and swelling in the affected bone area are the most common symptoms. The pain may become worse at night or with physical activity.
- Lump or Mass: A palpable lump or mass, which at times could even be tender to touch, develops in the affected area.
- Fever: Unexplained, persistent fever that does not subside.
- Fatigue: Tiredness and lethargy are common in affected children.
- Weight loss: Unexplained weight loss is an alarming sign.
- Bone Fractures: Their bones become weak and prone to fractures with minimal trauma.
What Are The Causes and Risk Factors of Ewing’s Sarcoma
The exact cause of Ewing's sarcoma remains unknown, but several risk factors have been associated with it, such as:
- Genetic Changes: Particular genetic mutations, especially involving chromosomes 11 and 22, are associated with Ewing's sarcoma.
- Age: It mostly affects children and teenagers.
- Gender: The condition is slightly more common in males than in females.
- Race: It is more frequent in Caucasians than in other racial groups.
The Importance of Early Diagnosis of Ewing’s Sarcoma
“Early diagnosis of Ewing's sarcoma is paramount for effective treatment,” shares Dr Agarwal. The diagnosis usually encompasses:
- Physical Examination: A proper physical checkup is conducted to detect lumps, masses, or any other signs.
- Imaging Tests: X Rays, MRI, CT scans, and PET scans are done to get an idea about the tumour structure and its extent.
- Biopsy: In this, a sample of the tumour is taken and observed under the microscope to confirm the diagnosis.
- Bone Marrow Aspiration: This test determines whether the cancer has spread to the bone marrow.
The earlier the diagnosis, the better the response to treatment and the lesser the chance of complications arising.
Also Read: All About Bone Sarcoma, Its Symptoms, Causes, And Treatment
Watch this video to know about treatment of bone cancer in kids
Ewing’s Sarcoma Treatment: Types of Treatment Available
There are several ways to treat Ewing's sarcoma. A combination of treatments is often given to obtain maximum benefit. The following are the primary ways of treating this disease:
- Surgery: This is where the tumour is surgically removed. All cancerous cells will be removed while preserving as much as can be of the function.
- Chemotherapy: This works by killing cancer cells using drugs or preventing their growth. Chemotherapy can be used pre surgery to reduce the size of the tumour or postsurgery to kill off the remaining cancer cells.
- Radiation Therapy: It involves the use of High Energy rays that target and kill cancer cells. This kind of therapy is conducted when surgery is impossible to perform, or even to destroy residual cancer cells after surgery.
- Targeted Therapy: This medication involves drugs that especially target cancer cells. It is a comparatively new method of treatment and often given in association with other modalities.
- Stem Cell Transplant: This may be necessary in certain cases to replace the bone marrow with healthy cells after high-dose chemotherapy.
Final Word
Ewing's sarcoma, though rare, is a big challenge. It is really aggressive and affects children and adults at a very young age. Therefore, creating awareness about its symptoms and causes and the need for early diagnosis can make a lot of difference in the success rate of treatment.