Angiosarcoma

Tests and procedures used in angiosarcoma diagnosis include:

• Physical exam. Your health care provider will thoroughly examine you to understand your condition.
• Removing a sample of tissue for testing. Your provider may remove a sample of suspicious tissue for laboratory testing. This procedure is called a biopsy. Tests in the lab can detect cancer cells. Special tests can give your provider more details about the cancer cells.
• Imaging tests. Imaging tests can give your provider an idea of the extent of the cancer. Tests may include MRI, CT and positron emission tomography (PET). Which tests you undergo will depend on your situation.

Which angiosarcoma treatment is best for you depends on your situation. Your health care team considers the cancer's location, its size and whether it has spread to other areas of the body.

Treatment options may include:

• Surgery. The goal of surgery is to remove all of the angiosarcoma. Your surgeon will remove the cancer and some of the healthy tissue that surrounds it. Sometimes surgery isn't an option. This might happen if the cancer is very large or has spread to other areas of the body.
• Radiation therapy. Radiation therapy uses high-energy beams, such as X-rays and protons, to kill cancer cells. Radiation therapy is sometimes used after surgery to kill any cancer cells that remain. Radiation therapy may also be an option if you can't have surgery.
• Chemotherapy. Chemotherapy is a treatment that uses drugs or chemicals to kill cancer cells. Chemotherapy may be an option if the angiosarcoma has spread to other areas of the body. Sometimes chemotherapy may be combined with radiation therapy if you can't undergo surgery.
• Targeted drug therapy. Targeted drug treatments attack specific chemicals present within the cancer cells. By blocking these chemicals, targeted drug treatments can cause cancer cells to die. For angiosarcoma treatment, targeted drugs might be an option if the cancer is advanced.
• Immunotherapy. Immunotherapy uses the immune system to fight cancer. Your body's immune system might not attack your cancer because the cancer cells make proteins that help them hide from the immune system's cells. Immunotherapy works by interfering with that process. For angiosarcoma, immunotherapy might be a treatment option for advanced cancer.

If you have symptoms that worry you, start by seeing your health care provider. If your provider suspects that you may have angiosarcoma, you may be referred to a specialist. This might be a doctor who treats skin diseases (dermatologist) or one that treats cancer (oncologist).

Because appointments can be brief, and there's often a lot of information to discuss, it's good to be prepared. Here's some information to help you get ready, and what to expect from your provider.

What you can do

• Be aware of any pre-appointment restrictions. At the time you make the appointment, be sure to ask if there's anything you need to do in advance, such as restrict your diet.
• Write down any symptoms you're experiencing, including any that may seem unrelated to the reason for which you scheduled the appointment.
• Write down key personal information, including any major stresses or recent life changes.
• Make a list of all medications, vitamins or supplements that you're taking.
• Take a family member or friend along. Sometimes it can be difficult to recall all the information provided during an appointment. Someone who accompanies you may remember something that you missed or forgot.
• Write down questions to ask your provider.

Your time with your provider is limited, so preparing a list of questions can help you make the most of your time together. List your questions from most important to least important in case time runs out. For angiosarcoma, some basic questions to ask your provider include:

• How advanced is my angiosarcoma?
• Has my angiosarcoma spread to other parts of my body?
• What treatments do you recommend?
• What are the benefits and risks of each treatment option?
• I have other health problems. How can I best manage them together?
• Will I be able to work and do my usual activities during angiosarcoma treatment?
• Should I seek a second opinion?
• Should I see a doctor who treats cancer?
• How quickly do I need to make a decision about treatment? Can I take some time to consider my options?
• Are there any brochures or other printed material that I can take with me? What websites do you recommend?

If any additional questions occur to you during your visit, don't hesitate to ask.

What to expect from your doctor

Your provider is likely to ask you a number of questions. Being ready to answer them may reserve time to go over points you want to talk about in-depth. Your provider may ask:

• When did you first begin experiencing symptoms?
• Are your symptoms occasional or continuous?
• How severe are your symptoms?
• Does anything seem to improve your symptoms?
• Does anything seem to make your symptoms worse?
• Have you been diagnosed with any other medical conditions?
• What medications are you currently taking, including vitamins and supplements?