Handbook of Genetic Counseling/Ewing's Sarcoma

Ewing's Sarcoma What is Ewing's sarcoma/PNET? a cancer that can start in bone or soft tissues most common sites for are the pelvis, the thigh, and the trunk of the body peak ages are 10-20, but younger children and older adults can also get it half are under 15 years less common before 5 or after 30 no known cause cells in the tumours have a piece of chromosome 11 moved to chromosome 22 85% contain chromosomal translocation at the t(11;22)(q24;q12) the genetic change occurs only in the tumour cells, not in the sperm or egg 2.5% of cases of childhood cancer development of the tumour appears to be in some way related to periods in life with rapid growth, hence the average for tumour development is 14-15 years slightly more common in boys than in girls most common early signs are pain and swelling can spread to other parts of the body always requires treatment to the whole body (chemotherapy, surgery, radiation therapy) Symptoms vary from person to person depending on the location and size of the cancer most common symptoms are pain and swelling or tenderness in the affected area pain may become very intense when the tumour is located near important nerves, like in the sacrum, pelvis or spine swelling is often seen, especially when the log bones of the arms or legs are affected tiredness, fever, weight loss, and anaemia Notes The information in this outline was last updated in 2002.