Leiomyosarcoma: Treatment, Cost and Side Effects

Leiomyosarcoma is a malignant tumour of the smooth muscle or soft-tissue. It is quite unpredictable and remains undiagnosed for very long like several years and symptoms can be visible after many years. It is a rare form of cancer mainly affecting uterine muscles but also other connective and non-epithelial tissue like that of bladder and gastrointestinal system. The tumour mainly originates from the involuntary muscle. This cancer usually spreads in the blood stream but very rarely in the lymphatic system. The exact cause of leiomyosarcoma is still unknown. The signs and symptoms of the disease are visible after a very long time, may be several years and can be very general like fever, fatigue, weight loss, nausea, vomiting and malaise. There may be additional symptoms which are usually specific to the tumour location. The malignant tumour causes bleeding in the gastrointestinal tract, causes dark, sticky and smelly stools known as melena, abdominal discomforts and bloody vomiting called hematemesis. The cancer in the uterus causes bleeding of the uterus and vagina, causing unusual vaginal discharge. The treatment for leiomyosarcoma has been found to be effective with radiation therapy and surgical removal if detected early. The main treatment method used for leiomyosarcoma is surgery to remove the entire malignant tumour. For some patients chemotherapy may also be recommended.

Treatment methods of leiomyosarcoma may include radiation therapy, chemotherapy, surgery and targeted drug therapy. Of all the methods, surgery is considered to be the most effective method as it involves excision of the entire malignant tumour from the affected area. Surgical procedure is the most common treatment for leiomyosarcoma removal. Wide margins of the cancer are removed by surgery quite effectively and it is made sure that no trace of the cancer is left behind. Radiation therapy is also used to destroy the malignant tumour cells. Radiation therapy is useful when the cancer occurs adjacent to a vital organ and thus its surgical removal is difficult. So, with radiation therapy only the cancerous cells are destroyed keeping the other adjacent parts and organs unaffected. Radiation therapy can be given either before or after the surgery whichever is suitable for the patient. Chemotherapy is mainly used to slow down the progression of the disease. Anti-cancer drugs like ifosfamide, gemcitabine, doxorubicin, dacarbazine, ecteinascidin and taxotere are used for treating leiomyosarcoma. Chemotherapy is usually used post-surgery to treat the left out localised cancer cells. But sometimes chemotherapy can also be used to shrink cancer cells before carrying out the surgery as it makes easy for the surgeon to remove the cancer cells.

Any person showing the symptoms of fever, malaise, vomiting, nausea, abdominal pain, abnormal vaginal discharge, bleeding in the uterus, discomfort in the abdomen etc for a long time is diagnosed with the cancer of the smooth involuntary muscle tissue is eligible for the treatment.

A person if not diagnosed with cancer despite the symptoms will not be eligible for treatment of leiomyosarcoma.

There can be several side effects of radiotherapy and chemotherapy both. Radiotherapy may cause blistering, peeling, itching and dryness of the skin. But these side effects often go in a few weeks. Chemotherapy is characterised by several common side effects like hair loss, fatigue, anemia, and infection, changes in appetite, nausea and vomiting, constipation, mood changes, fertility problems etc.

After receiving the treatment for leiomyosarcoma, the patient should take ample amount of rest and proper diet as they may lose appetite. It is important that they keep themselves hydrated and if some side effect worsens, then they must talk to their doctor.

The cost of treatment of leiomyosarcoma may range from Rs. 1 lakh to Rs. 15 lakh.

Yes, the results are permanent.

There are no alternatives to the treatment.