Smooth muscle plays a role in forming a supporting network of blood vessels and hollow organs in the body, such as the stomach, intestines and bladder. This muscle work is involuntary or work unconsciously, and move on various stimuli. Just like other parts of the body, smooth muscle can also get cancer.
An example of smooth muscle work is that when you chew food, the smooth muscles in the salivary glands secrete saliva into the mouth. This is done to help the process of processing food in the mouth. Another example is the contraction of the intestines to digest food. If there is an abnormality in smooth muscle, without prompt and appropriate treatment, smooth muscle work can be disrupted. This of course will affect various important functions of the body's organs.
Recognizing Leiomyosarcoma Smooth Muscle Cancer
One of the deadly diseases that can attack smooth muscle is leiomyosarcoma or also known as LMS. Leiomyosarcoma is a cancer that arises due to the abnormal growth of smooth muscle cells. Most people with this disease are over 50 years old.
In the classification of diseases, leiomyosarcoma belongs to the group of soft tissue sarcomas (fat, nerves, muscles, blood, and lymph). Some of the body parts that are most often the location of leiomyosarcoma growth, namely the uterus, digestive tract (especially the stomach), and legs. Until now, the factors that cause smooth muscle cancer are not known with certainty.
In some cases, leiomyosarcoma can occur in parts of the body that have had cancer or have received radiotherapy. These cancers are generally only formed up to ten years after radiotherapy. In addition, exposure to chemicals from plastic materials (vinyl chloride), dioxins, and some types of herbicides, is thought to increase the risk of developing sarcomas.
Leiomyosarcoma Symptoms and Treatment
Patients with leiomyosarcoma in the early stages often do not feel any symptoms. Symptoms are only felt when this condition is in an advanced stage. The following are symptoms that can be experienced by leiomyosarcoma sufferers:
- Abdominal bloating or upper abdominal discomfort.
- There is swelling under the skin.
- Pain and swelling in an area of the body.
- Fever, fatigue, and weight loss.
- Women who enter menopause experience bleeding. Meanwhile, women who have not been menopausal may experience menstrual changes.
The diagnosis of this disease is usually adjusted to the location of the abnormality. Determination of the tumor is benign or malignant is usually done through a biopsy. In addition, doctors can also perform ultrasound, CT scan, or MRI to determine the type of tumor, its size, location, and spread.
The best way to treat leiomyosarcoma is through surgical removal when the tumor is small. In some cases, patients are required to have regular check-ups after surgery. If the cancer reappears, doctors will generally advise the patient to undergo repeated treatment, either through radiation therapy, chemotherapy, surgery, or other treatment.
Do not delay the examination to the doctor, if you feel unusual symptoms in the stomach or other body parts. The sooner it is detected, the sooner treatment will be carried out on smooth muscle cancer or leiomyosarcoma. Thus, the success rate of treatment will be even greater.
