What is angiosarcoma?
Angiosarcoma is a rare but aggressive form of cancer that occurs in the breast and in the skin of the arms, which begins to develop in the blood or lymphatic vessels in the breast. There are two types of angiosarcoma in the breast:
- Primary angiosarcoma – occurs in people who have never been treated for breast cancer. Symptoms may include:
- Secondary angiosarcoma – occurs in patients previously treated for breast cancer. It is commonly associated with earlier radiation treatment to the breast but can also be associated with lymphedema. Symptoms may include:
What are causes and risk factors of angiosarcoma?
Angiosarcoma occurs when the cells in the inner lining of your blood vessels change from normal to abnormal cells. These cancerous cells multiply, eventually becoming tumors. Risk factors that may increase your chance of developing include:
- Being age 60+
- Previous radiation therapy treatment
- Exposure to chemicals
- Chronic lymphedema
- Certain genetic disorders
What are symptoms of angiosarcoma?
Symptoms of angiosarcoma will depend on the area of the body that is affected. Angiosarcoma of the skin may appear to have reddish or blue small lumps that progressively grow or a purplish area of skin that resembles a rash or bruise. Symptoms of an angiosarcoma in an organ may include:
- Fatigue
- Pain near the affected area
- Unexplained weight loss
- Shortness of breath
How is angiosarcoma diagnosed and treated?
Angiosarcoma can be difficult to diagnose and typically include many tests, including:
- Needle biopsy
- Mammogram
- Breast MRI
- PET scan
- Breast ultrasound
Depending on the size and location of the tumor, your provider may recommend either a lumpectomy, a removal of the tumor, or a mastectomy, a removal of some or all breast tissue. They may also recommend chemotherapy or radiation therapy treatments after surgery to address remaining cancer.
What is the prognosis for angiosarcoma?
The prognosis for angiosarcoma will depend on the size, location and stage of the tumor. Not all causes of angiosarcoma are preventable, but you can reduce some risks by limiting your exposure to certain toxic chemicals.