Sarcoma: what is this cancer from which American singer Cat Janice died ?

Sarcome : quel est ce cancer dont est décédée la chanteuse américaine Cat Janice ?

On February 28, Cat Janice's family announced that the American singer had died of sarcoma at the age of 31. A rare form of cancer that has many faces

Sarcomas are a heterogeneous family. There is in fact no "one" but "some" sarcomas. Sarcomas are tumors that originate in the body's connective tissues, such as muscles, bones, tendons and cartilage. Foam tissue sarcomas develop from supporting tissues, such as muscle, fat, cartilage, or nerve sheaths.

The disease is difficult to diagnose and treat, particularly because the first signs are not always clear. However, persistent pain, lump or mass should alert you.

Thus, in a video published on TikTok in November 2022, singer Cat Janice explained that a year earlier, she had discovered a "ball at the level of his neck, which had ended up growing without being painful ". It was while undergoing examinations that the diagnosis of sarcoma was made.

1% of all cancers

Sarcomas represent approximately 1% of all cancers in France, or 4,000 to 5,000 patients per year. Approximately 55% of sarcomas are located in the limbs, 45% in the deep regions of the trunk and abdomen and 5% in the head and neck.

The diagnosis is based on imaging examinations (MRI for limb tumors and CT scan for the abdominal area) and on micro-biopsy. And since there are over 70 types of sarcomas, treatment will vary depending on the type, location…

"In the event of localized disease without metastases, surgery is proposed", note the University Hospitals of Geneva. "In case of high risk of relapse, additional treatment with radiotherapy< em> or chemotherapy, usually before the operation, can be administered. If the disease is very advanced, different types of chemotherapy or targeted therapy may be considered. However, immunotherapies have not demonstrated effectiveness for this type of tumor."

With optimal management, 75% of patients are still alive 5 years after diagnosis. "But it is crucial to consult a sarcoma specialist straight away", warns the Institut Curie. Because many patients experience diagnostic wandering. In addition, "if the surgery is poorly performed, it then becomes difficult to correct the situation and the chances of survival without recurrence decrease."