Doctor removes or has removed a tumor of un known origin-
Its dx as Alveolar soft part sarcoma or is misdiagnosed
Scans are HOPEFULLY performed and tumors are found throughout the patients body
The cancer has metastasized.
The doctor then goes into protocol mode as THIS IS THE ONLY TOOL HE KNOWS OF TO TREAT THIS INCREDIABLEY RARE CANCER.
Radiates
Cancers are diagnosed at 1,660,290 a year
Sarcoma's are 1% of all cancers and Alveolar soft part is 1% of all sarcomas
Doctors at the most see under well under 170 cases a year..
Staging is not always applicable to ASPS and should be reconsidered
http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/2007168-overview
We have to change the thinking on this slow moving cancer and quit developing a knee jerk protocol.
Love
Debbie
Ps
The majority of us are considered in the doctors eyes to be stage IV
From the link
Stage IV:
Stage IV:
•In metastatic disease, it is important to differentiate between limited and disseminated metastases
•Limited metastasis is limited to 1 organ and should be considered for resection for improved disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS)
•Disseminated metastases can be managed with observation, palliative therapy (palliative radiation therapy, chemotherapy, or palliative surgery)
•The trigger for initiating palliative chemotherapy should be based on histology, tumor growth rate, chemosensitivity, and associated symptoms
•Adjuvant chemotherapy is not generally considered as first-line therapy[11, 12, 13]
•Several single-agent and combination chemotherapies are used in metastatic disease; compared with single-agent chemotherapies, combination therapies have higher response rates, although they are associated with greater toxicities and no survival advantage
•The decision for combination therapies should be individualized and take age, performance status, and organ function into account
•Combination therapies may require growth factor support
•Refer for clinical trials when possible
•If the patient is asymptomatic and has a slow tumor growth rate, then observation with close monitoring is a reasonable option
•Patients with limited metastatic disease or recurrent disease after primary therapy should be considered for surgery, radiofrequency ablation (RFA), embolization, or radiation therapy with curative intent
•There are no clear guidelines for metastatic and recurrent disease, as it is dependent upon the disease-free interval, performance status, and histology
•In stage IV sarcoma, patients with limited disease should also be considered for resection or other definitive intervention, as this is associated with improved disease-free survival
•Consider re-resection for positive or close margins[14]
•Prevention of local recurrence may require additional radiation and/or chemotherapy