Soft Tissue Sarcoma
Overview
Soft tissue sarcoma is cancer that develops in the soft tissues of the body. The term soft tissue is used to describe all of the supporting tissue in the body apart from the bones – this includes fat, muscle and deep skin tissues. Cancer can develop in any of these cells.
In the UK, around 3,000 people are diagnosed with soft tissue sarcoma each year. It is more likely to develop in adults over the age of 50. In the US, it is estimated that 11,410 men and women (6,290 men and 5,120 women) will be diagnosed with soft tissue sarcoma during 2013.
Soft tissue sarcoma does not usually cause symptoms in the early stages. As the sarcoma grows, a lump may be noticeable and this may be painful if it presses against surrounding tissue and nerves.
There are over 50 different types of soft tissue sarcoma, depending on where in the body they are located. For example:
Leiomyosarcomas – which develop in muscle tissue
Liposarcomas – which develop in fat tissue
Angiosarcomas – which develop in the cells of the blood or lymph vessels
One particular type of soft tissue sarcoma, Kaposi’s sarcoma, develops from skin cells. It is more common in people who have a weakened immune system, including people with HIV.
Gastrointestinal stromal tumor (commonly known as GIST) is a type of soft tissue sarcoma found in the stomach and intestines. Occasionally it is found lower down the GI system (the gastro-intestinal system is essentially a long tube running right through the body).
Sarcomas often don’t cause any symptoms for a long time. They can start in any part of the body and the symptoms will depend on the part of the body that’s affected.
If the sarcoma is in an arm or a leg, the most common symptom is an uncomfortable swelling in the affected limb. Occasionally, this swelling may be painful or tender, but it may also be painless.
If the sarcoma is in the central part of the body (the trunk), the symptoms will depend on which of the body’s organs is affected. For example:
A sarcoma in a lung may cause a cough and breathlessness.
A sarcoma in the abdomen could cause abdominal pain, vomiting and constipation. A GIST may also cause bleeding into the bowel. This may cause you to vomit blood, pass dark bowel motions or develop symptoms of anaemia (a low number of red blood cells), such as shortness of breath or tiredness.
A sarcoma affecting the womb may cause bleeding from the vagina and pain in the lower part of the abdomen.
Usually, soft tissue sarcomas don’t cause any symptoms until they are quite large and pressing on an organ in the body or on a nerve or muscle. Things to look out for include:
any lump, especially if it is increasing in size and is bigger than 5cm (2in)
any lump that is painful or tender
any lump that is deep in the body (ie not just under the skin)
any lump that has come back after being surgically removed.
If you notice any of the above, contact your doctor, but remember that these symptoms can also be caused by other conditions.
Although the causes of soft tissue sarcomas are unknown, research is going on to try to find out more. Sarcomas, like other cancers, are not infectious and can’t be passed on to other people.
Age:
Sarcomas can occur at any age but are more common as people get older. About two-thirds of all soft tissue sarcomas are diagnosed in people over 50.
Genetic Conditions:
Most sarcomas are not caused by an inherited faulty gene that can be passed on to other family members. Members of your family are not likely to have an increased risk of developing a soft tissue sarcoma because you have one.
However, people who have some rare inherited genetic conditions are more at risk of developing a sarcoma. These conditions include neurofibromatosis, Gardner’s syndrome, Li-Fraumeni syndrome and retinoblastoma. You would normally know if any member of your family had one of these conditions, and their doctor would check them regularly for any sign of a sarcoma.
Previous Radiotherapy Treatment:
Very rarely, a soft tissue sarcoma will occur in a part of the body that has previously been treated with radiotherapy for another type of cancer. The sarcoma will not usually develop until at least 5-10 years after the radiotherapy treatment. To reduce the risk, radiotherapy is very carefully planned. Improvements in the way radiotherapy is given mean that the risk of developing a sarcoma is very small.
Exposure to Chemicals:
The development of some sarcomas may be linked to exposure to some types of chemicals. The chemicals include: vinyl chloride, which is used for making plastics; some types of herbicides (weedkillers); and dioxins, which are a waste product produced during the manufacture of chemicals and fertilisers.
Injury:
There is no evidence that an injury can cause a soft tissue sarcoma to develop. It’s possible that an injury may draw attention to a sarcoma that was already there and not causing any symptoms, but the sarcoma will have taken many years to develop.
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Avoid all foods that are high in unhealthy saturated and trans- fats, hydrogenated and partially-hydrogenated fats and oils, margarine, and shortening. Eliminate refined white flour, which is found in the majority of foods found on a typical grocery store shelf, including bread, bagels, crackers, cakes, cookies, and other baked good, pasta. Also avoid alcohol, caffeine, simple carbohydrates, sugars and sugar products, foods that are overly spicy, and all processed and commercial “junk” food. Stay clear of all inorganic pasteurized milk and dairy products, including yogurt and cheese; best to eat only raw, organic dairy products.
Empower yourself, and choose a diet emphasizing organic whole foods, including plenty of fresh, raw fruits and vegetables, oats, whole grains, such as brown rice, quinoa and buckwheat. Include a variety of preferably soaked, nuts and seeds, especially pumpkin and sunflower seeds. Minimize your intake of red meat; though be sure to consume adequate amounts of organic, free-range poultry, bison and wild-caught fish. Eat generous quantities of both raw and lightly steamed organic vegetables and large fresh salads daily. Preferably, cook with virgin coconut butter/oil and use extra virgin olive oil, high lignin flax seed oil and hemp seed oil as condiments on veggies and as the base for your daily salad dressing. Throughout the day, drink plenty of pure, filtered water, and avoid drinking—as well as bathing, and showering in—unfiltered tap water, as tap water contains heavy metals and pesticide residues that can settle in high concentrations in the body.
The raw food diet is a food plan that can be of great benefit if you suffer from kidney cancer. Using the guidelines outlined above as a base camp for a clean and healthy diet, one can then transition into a raw food diet as desired. Raw food generates rapid results because of its ability to thoroughly detoxify and liberate your body’s previously untapped energy.
The diet mainly consists of raw fruits, vegetables, and soaked and sprouted nuts and seeds, supplemented with daily consumption of fresh green juices made from a variety of vegetables such as celery, romaine lettuce, spinach, carrot, kale, parsley, and an ever rotating seasonal selection of other organic veggies. Raw foodists enjoy salads, dehydrated flax crackers, seed and nut patés, blended soups, smoothies, and marinated veggies, often mixed with soaked sea vegetables. Since little to no cooked food is consumed, the raw diet has the advantage of instantly eliminating many common allergens. No cooked wheat or wheat by-products are consumed, and generally dairy is omitted, though some might choose to eat moderate quantities of raw goat or sheep milk products, often in the form of a fermented food, such as homemade raw kefir or yogurt.
Dr Gabriel Cousins, at the Tree of Life Center, endorses the raw food plan as the ultimate healing diet, and offers 100% raw food meals at his healing retreat in Patagonia, Arizona. An important note when choosing a raw food diet: there is an issue of trade-offs. You might miss cooked foods, though you will not miss cancer. More times than not the raw food diet presents itself as an incredible tool that can be used to quickly transition from a serious health challenge into a healing process, ultimately resulting in greater health and well-being.
It is important to not add further toxicity to your system so try to adhere to the following:
- Do not consume any artificial sweeteners, such as Splenda, NutraSweet or Aspartame
- Do not consume high fructose corn syrup or mono-sodium glutamate.
- Do not drink any carbonated beverages.
- Avoid all fast food restaurants.
- Avoid all canned food.
- Eliminate conventional dairy products. The best dairy products are raw, unpasteurised and homogenised dairy from grass fed cows. If this is unavailable, then buy organic dairy.
- Avoid conventional beef. The best beef is organic grass fed beef.
www.grasslandbeef.com The second best is organic meat; this includes beef, veal, lamb, chicken and turkey.
Supplements:
- Take Vitamin D3 50,000-100,000 International Units a day for periods of 4 weeks at a time.
- Wholefood supplements are the best way of ensuring your nutritional needs are met. The best we know on the market is Kevin Trudeau’s “KT Daily” product. You can find more details here.
- Take an Omega 3 supplement:
Choline:
Choline is often included in B vitamin complex supplements and, according to the A.P. John Cancer Research Institute, may help to fight cancer-related fatigue. Additionally, an early study into the relationship between liver cancer and choline, published in the October 1984 issue of “Carconogenesis” found that mice that were fed a diet deficient in choline were more likely to develop liver cancer. Choline is found in a number of foods including liver, fish, beans, spinach and eggs. It can also be taken as a dietary supplement. RxList notes that it is likely safe for most adults but high doses may cause side effects including sweating, vomiting and diarrhea.
Green Tea:
Compounds found in green tea interfere with the supply of energy to cancer cells and help starve them to death, the A.P. John Cancer Research Institute notes. An article published in the October 2010 issue of “Nutrition and Cancer” also notes that extracts of green tea and chemicals found in green tea, known as polyphenols, may inhibit the formation and development of tumors. Green tea is usually consumed as a beverage, but it is also available in capsule and tablet form. It is likely safe for most adults, but high doses or long-term use may cause side effects including an upset stomach, irritability and anxiety. Do not take concentrated green tea extract as it may cause liver problems.
Selenium:
The trace mineral selenium may interfere with the activity of genes involved in cancer cell growth and may also induce cancer cell death, according to the A.P. John Cancer Research Institute. The Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center also notes that selenium can help to reduce treatment-related side effects. This mineral is found in a host of foods including whole grains, poultry and nuts. It can also be taken as a dietary supplement. Talk to your doctor before using selenium supplements as high doses may deplete vitamin C levels.
Prescription and non-prescription medication:
What non-prescription and prescription drugs are you taking? Your non-prescription and prescription are partially the reason that you have this illness or disease – you need to get off these medications but do so only under the guidance of a licensed health care practitioner.
We know that when the body is out of balance, energy doesn’t flow, leading blockages and eventually disease. Here are some things you can do to combat stress and restore balance:
- Go to a Dr Morter BEST (Bio-Energetic Synchronisation Technique) Practitioner.
- Sign up for Energetic Re-Balancing: 2 practitioners to consider are:
Stephen Lewis, founder of the Aim Program. Find out more by clicking here.
. Find out more by clicking here.
- Consider using Mary Millers Iching System Products – ichingsystemsinstruments.com
- Reiki healing is very powerful in releasing stress and emotional baggage. Find a practitioner here.
- Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) has had remarkable results in dissolving stress. Find a local practitioner here or go to www.thetappingsolution.com or www.tftrx.com
- Try Hypnotherapy to relax the mind. Find a practitioner here.
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Traditional Chinese Medicine – Ancient Healingwww.naturalcures.com/healthblog/traditional_chinese_ancient_healing.php
The best way to cleansing and purification of the body www.naturalcures.com/recommends/
Mother Nature’s Natural Germ Fighters naturalhealthdossier.com/2012/03/mother-natures-natural-germ-fighters
Immune health NC_Newsletter_07-11.pdf
Squeaky Clean (Colonic Irrigation) www.naturalcures.com/squeaky-clean
Colloidal Silver NC_Newsletter_09-08.pdf
Heal Your Body and Raise Your Consciousness – Qigong NC_Newsletter_12-08.pdf
Health Care that Won’t Cost You a Single Penny – EFT NC_Newsletter_12-06.pdf
Become Master of Your Mind – taking charge of your reaction to stress NC_Newsletter_12-10.pdf
Jump for Joy – Rebounding is a great stress busting workout NC_Newsletter_12-10.pdf
Hypnotherapy for stress management – why it is so effectivewww.naturalcures.com
Video
EFT for treating disease www.garythink.com/eft/physicial.html
Research
Agent Orange linked to soft tissue sarcoma: www.naturalnews.com/023470_cancer_orange_Agent.html
Mushrooms that fight soft tissue sarcoma: www.naturalnews.com/023633_cancer_mushrooms_health.html
Further Information (links and books)
Natural Alternatives to Antibiotics by John McKenna
The Healing Power of Nature Foods: 50 Revitalizing Superfoods & Lifestyle Choices To Promote Vibrant Health by Susan Smith Jones
Aromatherapy: A Complete Guide to the Healing Art by Kathi Keville and Mindi Green
Detox and revitalize by Susana L. Belen
Colloidal Silver: The Natural Antibiotic Alternative by Zane Baranowski
The Secret Language of Your Body by Inna Segal
The Healing Herbs: The Ultimate Guide to the Curative Power of Nature’s Medicines by Michael Castleman and Prevention Magazine
Links:
Whole food supplement, Pure Synergy
www.thesynergycompany.com (800) 723-0277
E3 Live, Green Superfoods
www.awakenedshoppe.com
Omega-3s, Cod Liver oil
www.drrons.com (877) 472-8701
St. John’s Wort
Sunlight Therapy, Solar Healing
EMF Chaos Elimination, Q-Link
www.toolsforwellness.com (800) 456-9887
Living Freedom, Emotional Release Work
www.totalintegrationinstitute.com (520) 615-9811
Callahan Technique, Thought Field Therapy
www.tftrx.com (760) 564-1008
Dianetics, Dianetics Technology
www.dianetics.com (800) 367-8788
Neuro Emotional Technique
www.netmindbody.com (800) 888-4638
Bowen, Find Practitioner
Rebounder, Evolution Health
www.evolutionhealth.com (888) 896-7790
Andrea Butje | Aromahead [email protected] – aromatherapy
Carrie Vitt [email protected] – organic food recipes.
David Spector-NSR/USA [email protected] – meditation, stress
judith hoad [email protected] – herbalist.
Kath May [email protected] – reiki, tai chi.
Lillian Bridges [email protected] – Chinese medicine, living naturally.
Monika [email protected] – aromatherapy.
Rakesh [email protected] – Ayurvedic Practitioner.
Joanne Callaghan – [email protected] www.RogerCallahan.com Thought Field Therapy (TF) releasing unresolved emotions, stress and illness.
Trusted Products
Clean well – Natural Cleaning Products
EMF necklace – blocker and stress reducing pendant