What type of cancer is leiomyosarcoma?
What type of cancer is leiomyosarcoma?
What is leiomyosarcoma? Leiomyosarcoma, or LMS, is a type of rare cancer that grows in the smooth muscles. The smooth muscles are in the hollow organs of the body, including the intestines, stomach, bladder, and blood vessels.
What is the survival rate of leiomyosarcoma?
The five-year survival rates for leiomyosarcoma by stage chart
| Stage | Status | Percentage of The 5-Year Survival Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Localized | The cancer is confined to the site of origin | 63% |
| Regional | The cancer has spread to nearby tissues and/or lymph nodes | 36% |
| Distant | The cancer has spread to distant parts of the body | 14% |
Is leiomyosarcoma cancer curable?
Yes. Leiomyosarcoma can be cured, especially when detected and treated early on.
Is leiomyosarcoma a fast growing cancer?
Leiomyosarcoma is a rare but aggressive type of cancer. It can grow fast and may even double in size in as little as four weeks. The treatment needs to be initiated as soon as possible after its diagnosis. Even after the treatment, there are high chances that this type of cancer will recur.
Where does leiomyosarcoma spread to first?
Leiomyosarcoma most often begins in the abdomen or uterus. It starts as a growth of abnormal cells and often grows quickly to invade and destroy normal body tissue.
Is Stage 4 leiomyosarcoma curable?
Stage IV sarcomas are rarely curable. But some patients may be cured if the main (primary) tumor and all of the areas of cancer spread (metastases) can be removed by surgery. The best success rate is when it has spread only to the lungs.
How long can you live with LMS?
Leiomyosarcoma. Overall, for leiomyosarcoma: Almost 50 out of every 100 people (almost 50%) will survive their cancer for 5 years or more after diagnosis.
Does Chemo work for leiomyosarcoma?
Adriamycin (Doxorubicin) and ifosfamide are the chemotherapy drugs that are currently used to treat leiomyosarcoma. They work well for some people, but not everyone. Doctors think that the drugs gemcitabine and docetaxel (Taxotere) may be better.
How often does leiomyosarcoma come back?
It’s common for leiomyosarcoma to come back, or “recur.” One study suggests that it returns nearly 40% of the time. The chances are highest in the first 5 years after treatment, so you’ll need the most follow-up then.
Does leiomyosarcoma run in families?
Leiomyosarcoma (LMS) is not hereditary, which means it does not run in families. However, LMS can be part of many genetic syndromes that can be inherited. So, the doctor may screen a person for inherited genetic syndromes if their family member has one of the syndromes or if the person is showing symptoms.
What is the best way to treat leiomyosarcoma?
In general, treatments for leiomyosarcoma may include:
- Surgery. The goal of surgery is to remove all of the leiomyosarcoma.
- Radiation therapy. Radiation therapy uses powerful energy beams, such as X-rays and protons, to kill cancer cells.
- Chemotherapy.
- Targeted drug therapy.
Can Stage 4 leiomyosarcoma be cured?
