Cardiac Sarcoma: Know First, Be Safer

Cardiac Sarcoma: The Severe Disease That Caused a Famous Star's Death a Few Days Ago. How Dangerous Is This Disease? Who Is at Risk? How Should It Be Treated? Let's Learn Together from This Article.

Cardiac sarcoma, or medically known as "Cardiac Sarcoma," is a very rare but highly dangerous cancer. Today, we will learn about the causes, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment approaches for cardiac sarcoma to build understanding, find prevention methods, and raise awareness about this disease.

What is Cardiac Sarcoma? 

Cardiac sarcoma is a type of cancer that originates from malignant tumors in the heart tissue. It mostly occurs in the heart muscle but can also be found in other parts of the heart such as the pericardium or blood vessels supplying the heart.

Causes of Cardiac Sarcoma 

Although the exact cause of cardiac sarcoma is not well understood, researchers have found that certain risk factors may increase the chances of developing this disease. These include genetics, exposure to chest radiation, exposure to certain chemicals, or immunodeficiency conditions.

Symptoms of Cardiac Sarcoma 

Symptoms of cardiac sarcoma are often unclear in the early stages and may be similar to other heart diseases. Common symptoms include difficulty breathing or shortness of breath, chest pain, palpitations, coughing up blood, fatigue, easy tiredness, and swelling in the legs or ankles.

Treatment of Cardiac Sarcoma 

The treatment of cardiac sarcoma depends on several factors such as the size and location of the tumor, the stage of the disease, and the overall health of the patient. The main treatment methods include:

1. Surgery

   Surgery is the primary treatment method for cardiac sarcoma. The goal is to remove as much of the tumor as possible. This involves open-heart surgery to directly cut out the mass.

2. Chemotherapy and Radiation Therapy 

   Chemotherapy uses drugs to destroy cancer cells and is often used in conjunction with surgery. Radiation therapy uses high-energy radiation to destroy cancer cells and is a popular method in cancer treatment.

Self-Care to Stay Away from Cancer 

Although cardiac sarcoma cannot be completely prevented, general health care may help reduce the risk:

• Eat nutritious food
• Exercise regularly
• Avoid smoking and drinking alcohol
• Have annual health check-ups
• Observe unusual symptoms and consult a doctor immediately if in doubt

Cardiac sarcoma is a rare but severe disease. Regular health check-ups are important. If you suspect that you are at risk or have abnormal symptoms, consult a doctor as soon as possible. Consuming beneficial nutrients is also necessary, such as quality and standardized dietary supplements.

References:

• World Health Organization. (2023). Cancer. https://www.who.int/health-topics/cancer
• Royal College of Physicians of Thailand. (2023). Cancer. https://www.rcpt.org/
• National Cancer Institute. (2023). Cancer Information. https://www.nci.go.th/
• Chulalongkorn Hospital, Thai Red Cross Society. (2023). Heart Center. https://chulacancer.net/