Rare Forms Of Cancer To Be Aware Of

The Deadly Desmoplastic Small Round Cell Tumor

This aggressive and rare form of cancer predominantly occurs in the abdomen and can affect other areas of the body including the lining of the abdomen, lymph nodes, diaphragm, spleen, liver, and chest wall. It also affects the skull, spinal cord, brain, large and small intestines, bladder, lungs, testicles, ovaries, and the pelvis. This type of tumor is categorized as a soft tissue sarcoma and is considered a childhood cancer that usually affects boys and young male adults, as the disease rarely occurs in females. There are no known causes of the disease, and it is often misdiagnosed as other forms of tumors within the abdomen due to its rarity. Symptoms include abdominal masses that can grow to enormous sizes and are often hard and round, abdominal distention, abdominal or back pain, gastrointestinal obstruction, lack of appetite, ascites, anemia, cachexia, and masses appearing in other areas of the body.

Similar to small blue round cell tumors, Desmoplastic small round cell tumors can be treated at a sarcoma center due to how rapidly this type of cancer spreads, and there is no standard treatment protocol. Recent research has indicated patients have responded well to chemotherapy, surgery to remove the tumor, and radiation therapy following surgery.

Continue reading to learn about another childhood cancer, the rare Wilms’ Tumor.