Soft Tissue Sarcoma Chemoembolization
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Chemoembolization for Soft Tissue Sarcoma
When a soft tissue sarcoma metastasizes, it means the disease has spread from the original tumor location to other body sites, usually through the bloodstream. Soft tissue sarcomas can metastasize to a variety of places, depending on where the tumor originates. Tumors in the extremities will most commonly spread to the lungs, while soft tissue sarcomas in the abdomen often spread to the liver.
For sarcoma tumors that spread to the liver, chemoembolization may be a part of your individualized treatment plan at Cancer Treatment Centers of America (CTCA). To be considered for soft tissue sarcoma chemoembolization, you must have metastatic tumors that are not too large, or too numerous, within the liver.
During chemoembolization, your doctor administers a highly concentrated dose of chemotherapy drugs, followed by tiny beads (microspheres), directly into blood vessels that feed the liver tumor in order to block blood flow. Without a blood supply to deliver oxygen and nutrients, metastatic sarcoma tumors may stop growing, or even shrink in size.
Chemoembolization is an innovative treatment approach that allows high doses of chemotherapy drugs to be targeted directly to the cancerous portion of the liver for a longer period of time, without exposing the entire body to the effect of the drugs.
Supportive Therapies for Soft Tissue Sarcoma
When undergoing chemotherapy treatments for soft tissue sarcoma, you may be worried about the unpleasant side effects associated with treatment. While chemoembolization for soft tissue sarcoma provides treatment directly to the tumor in the liver, side effects may still occur.
At CTCA, we anticipate and proactively manage potential side effects such as nausea and fatigue before they even occur. Before, during and after your treatment, you will receive supportive therapies designed to keep you strong and nourished so you can relax and focus on recovery.
Your doctor may also prescribe certain medications to reduce nausea and vomiting, or to help maintain blood cell counts. Additionally, your dietitian, naturopathic clinician and other members of your care team will work together to find a combination of therapies, based on your individual needs, to help you manage, or prevent, these side effects.
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