Desmoid Tumor

Get the facts on Desmoid Tumor treatment, diagnosis, staging, causes, types, symptoms. Information and current news about clinical trials and trial-related data, Desmoid Tumor prevention, screening, research, statistics and other Desmoid Tumor related topics. We answer all your qestions about Desmoid Tumor.

Question: what is Desmoid Tumor?

Answer: Desmoid tumors often appear as infiltrative, usually well-differentiated, firm overgrowths of fibrous tissue, and they are locally aggressive. They sometimes occur after childbirth or surgery. http://www.emedicine.com/derm/topic778.hâ€¦ http://www.cancer.gov/Templates/db_alphaâ€¦ http://www.emedicine.com/derm/byname/desâ€¦ http://www.medterms.com/script/main/art.â€¦

Question: I need a Dr. that knows about desmoid tumors?

Answer: Desmoid tumors occur in children and young adults. They arise from muscle or connective tissue (â€œsoft tissueâ€) around muscles or bones, and can appear anywhere in the body. Incidence Desmoid tumors are very rare, accounting for less than 1 percent of childhood tumors. They can occur at any time throughout childhood. Influencing Factors The cause of desmoid tumors is unknown. In some patients, desmoid tumors can occur as part of an inherited syndrome called Gardner Syndrome, in which patients also have colon polyps or colon cancer. Desmoid tumors can also occur in pregnant women, which has led to the theory that hormones may influence growth. Most of the time, desmoid tumors occur in previously healthy patients with no other medical problems. Clinical Features and Symptoms Desmoid tumors usually appear as visible or palpable masses in the soft tissue beneath the skin. They can be painful. They can grow to be quite large (4 â€“ 5 inches) in diameter before they are discovered. They can spread to involve nearby normal tissues around them. Depending on where the tumor is located, other symptoms may occur. Desmoid tumors usually occur as a single tumor, but sometimes a patient may have more than one tumor at diagnosis. Survival Rates Desmoid tumors are neither a truly benign nor a truly malignant cancer. They can be life-threatening if located next to vital organs like the spine or trachea (windpipe) . Surgical removal of the entire tumor usually achieves a cure. However, if even small amounts of tumor cells remain, the tumor can grow back again. Depending on the location of the tumor, surgical removal may not be possible. In these cases, radiation therapy or chemotherapy may prevent further tumor growth or cause the tumor to disappear. Current Research St. Jude, is evaluating whether chemotherapy can successfully control desmoid tumors in children or young adults for whom surgery or radiation therapy is not feasible or has failed in the past. A new technique called RFA (radiofrequency ablation) may be used in selected cases in which surgery, radiation or chemotherapy has been unsuccessful. I've enclosed two links that will give you a great deal of information.

Question: Waiting to have surgery to remove tumor, why isn't my boyfriend there for me? I recently went to my doctor who found a lump in my arm and the next thing I knew I was getting MRI, CT scan and XRays and then was told to go to an oncologist. I just saw the oncologist and he said he wants to do surgery to take the tumor out, but is not going to do a needle biopsy first because the tumor is near a nerve and it will hurt. The doctor also said that you can't be sure until he looks at the actual tissue under a microscope, but it could be a desmoid tumor (benign) or a malignant tumor So now I am waiting, trying to go about my day to day life like everything is normal. I'm 22, living with a friend, working at my first job after college and I am so scared! The worst part is my boyfriend is telling me I am acting ridiculous. I am over reacting. I called him last night and started crying and he said "oh god my life sucks, why are you doing this to me" Not only is he not there for me but he is making me feel awful about myself. I don't what to do. I went to the oncologist on Tuesday and my surgery is this wednesday, so it's been about 3 days and i still have 5 days to go and then a day to wait to find everything out, I really don't know if I am strong enough to make it.

Answer: I'm sorry to hear about your tumor. It sounds like you're really disappointed in your boyfriend's lack of emotional support. Perhaps your relationship has been mostly you-giving and him-taking in the past. This might not be a good time to break up with him since you're so distraught. He might be an emotionally weak person and you'll have to decide later if you want to continue your relationship or not. For now, accept that he's not going to be there for you and make your own arrangements. Is there someone else you can share your anxieties with, a friend who is a good listener and can help you hear yourself so that you can learn to comfort yourself? In the end, we all really need to be in touch with our own feelings. Other people can help us a little bit, but we often need to be strong for ourselves. Once this is all over and you are done with the medical procedures, you can re-focus your sight on your relationship and quietly observe if your bf is the man you want to spend more time with, or if it's time to move on. Remember, each of us has something to deal with and he is probably feeling abandoned right now because you can't be his fun gf. Rather childish, but rather typical male. I wish you a successful operation and that the tumor will be benign. May you grow into a better, calmer and stronger person from this experience.

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