Health Insurance Archives - Page 22 of 52

Is That Discomfort an Ulcer, Heartburn, Or Gastroparesis?

Are you feeling fuller after eating than you used to, or are you often bloated? While these symptoms could mean a lot of things, they are some of the common signs of gastroparesis, a condition marked by partial paralysis of the stomach, which leads to difficulties emptying food in a normal way. This condition is rare, affecting only 10 men and 40 women out of 100,000, but it can become serious and can lead to other issues, such as anorexia or diabetes. Gastroparesis can sometimes be mistaken for an ulcer, heartburn, acid reflux, or an allergic reaction, so it is important to know what symptoms to look for; recognizing this rare condition and getting it diagnosed and treated can help avoid potentially deadly complications.

Gastroparesis Defined

illustration of a body with the intestines showing — *Gastroparesis occurs when your stomach walls work poorly, or not at all, which will delay digestion.*

Gastroparesis, also called gastric stasis, affects the muscles of the stomach and prevents normal gastric emptying. Normally, your stomach walls work to grind food into smaller pieces and then pushes those pieces to the small intestine to continue digestion, but in those with gastroparesis, the muscles of the stomach walls work poorly or not at all, and digestion gets delayed. In some cases, if the food takes too long to digest, it will form into a solid mass called a bezoar, which can lead to nausea, vomiting, or worse.

Risk Factors/Causes

In most cases, doctors do not know what causes this rare condition; when it occurs without a known cause, it is referred to as idiopathic gastroparesis. Women are at higher risk of developing idiopathic gastroparesis: approximately 80% of cases are diagnosed in women. You are also more likely to develop gastroparesis if you:

Have diabetes- this is the most common known underlying cause of gastroparesis. Diabetes can damage nerves, including the vagus nerve and nerves that control the muscles of the stomach and small intestine.
Have had surgery on your stomach, small intestine, or esophagus, which damaged the vagus nerve.
Have had radiation therapy.
Are taking medications such as narcotics or antidepressants.
Have certain autoimmune diseases such as scleroderma, a connective tissue disorder that affects the skin, blood vessels, and internal organs.
Have hypothyroidism.
Have had viral infections of your stomach.

Symptoms To Look For

illustration of a body with vomit coming out of the mouth. — *Nausea and vomiting are signs of gastroparesis.*

Gastroparesis is often confused with ulcers or heartburn because some of the symptoms are similar, including:

Nausea
Vomiting
Bloating
Excess gas
Chronic stomach pain
Poor blood sugar control
Poor appetite
Weight loss
Feeling full soon after starting a meal
Feeling full long after finishing a meal
Heartburn or gastroesophageal reflux (backup of stomach contents into your esophagus)

Complications of Gastroparesis

Gastroparesis can lead to a number of other issues, including: magnifying glass over the stomach, showing bacteria.

Growth of bacteria due to fermentation of food in the stomach.
Bezoars, or solid masses that keep food from passing to the small intestine.
Dehydration due to constant vomiting.
Malnutrition due to poor absorption of nutrients.
Blood glucose, or blood sugar, levels that are harder to control.
Losing weight without trying, leading to anorexia.
Decrease in quality of life.

How Is Gastroparesis Diagnosed?

Doctors will diagnose gastroparesis based on your medical history, symptoms, and the results of a physical exam and medical tests – testing is necessary to rule out the common misdiagnosis of acid reflux, heartburn, or an ulcer. During your physical exam, your doctor will listen for “succession splash,” meaning they will gently shake you and then listen for the sounds of fluid in your body. They will also check for any stomach tenderness, pain, and signs of dehydration or malnutrition.

Doctors can also request lab tests to help rule out any underlying conditions, such as inflammation, infection, and high or low blood glucose levels. They can also conduct a urine test to show signs of diabetes, dehydration, infection and kidney problems. Your doctor might run other tests, including:

Endoscopy– An endoscope is put into your throat to check if there is an obstruction or blockage of the intestines.
Upper gastrointestinal barium contrast radiography– After swallowing a contract solution called barium, an x-ray is taken to see if there are any delays in the liquid emptying from your stomach.
Gastric Emptying Scintigraphy– The most commonly used test, in which you are given food that is labeled with a marker that can be seen by a scanner, allowing your doctor to follow the food as it travels through your intestines.
Antroduodenal Manometry– This tests the muscles used to digest food. A catheter is inserted through your mouth and into the stomach, and is left there for 6 hours to measure muscular activity; after 6 hours you will eat a meal and your doctor will record the measurements of your gastric activity during digestion.
Wireless Motility Study– This evaluates the time it takes for your stomach to empty. With this test, you are given a pill that collects data as it travels through your gastrointestinal system.

How Is It Treated?

Gastroparesis is a long-term condition, which means that treatment for this rare condition will not cure the disease, but can help manage it. There are ways to help control symptoms and manage the condition, including:

Controlling your blood sugar levels if you are diabetic.
Taking medications that can help strengthen muscle activity in the wall of your stomach.
Changing your daily eating habits – for example, eating 6 small meals a day, so there is less food for your stomach to digest, avoiding foods that are high in fat and fiber, and focusing on ingesting liquids. For example, instead of eating an apple, opt for applesauce, which is easier to digest.

If nausea and vomiting continue after treatments, surgery can be done, including:

Gastric electrical stimulation, in which a device that sends mild electric shocks to the stomach muscles is inserted into the abdomen to help control vomiting.
Gastric bypass, in which surgeons create a small pouch at the top part of the stomach to limit the amount of food you can eat. This type of surgery is most appropriate for obese diabetic patients.

In extreme cases, your doctor might decide that a feeding tube is your best option to get a quick source of nutrients into your bloodstream.

When Should You See A Doctor?

You know yourself better than anyone, and if you are experiencing any of the above mentioned symptoms of dehydration, fatigue, bloating, or unexplained weight loss, you should seek help. Trust your gut! The sooner you seek help, the sooner you can manage the condition and improve your quality of life.

If you do need to seek help for a condition like gastroparesis, all of the lab tests, medications, and other diagnostic and treatment options can become pricey if you don’t have good health insurance coverage. Having the right plan is important, so come to EZ: one of our agents will compare plans in your area in minutes, get you more coverage, and save you as much money as possible. We will find a plan that provides the coverage you need and then some, for free. To get free instant quotes, simply enter your zip code in the bar above, or to speak to a licensed agent, call 888-350-1890.

Making The Most Of Your OB/GYN Appointment

The dreaded OB/GYN appointment. For many women, seeing the gynecologist is just plain nerve-wracking. You want it to be over and done with, and you also might get hung up beforehand on things that don’t matter; for example, the majority of us make sure that we shave our legs and bikini area to try and make the visit feel less…awkward. But what about the really important stuff? Before going to see your OB/GYN, you should be mentally prepared and ready to ask questions and discuss anything that is on your mind. Your vaginal health is just as important as your overall health, so take the time to make the most of your appointment by using the following tips.

Write Down Your Concerns/Questions

cell phone with a notebook over it and pen — *Write down any and all questions or concerns you have so you do not forget to talk about it.*

Whether it is your first time going to the OB/GYN, or your 20th time, it is always best to be prepared ahead of time; during your visit, you might get caught up in small talk or lose your train of thought and forget to ask the important stuff. So, before your appointment, take the time to write down any concerns and questions you have. For example, if you are experiencing unusual discharge, itchiness, pain, or changes to your menstrual cycle, write these things down so you don’t forget to bring them up while you are there. It’s a great idea to put this all down in a note on your phone, so you know you won’t forget your list, and so you can easily pull up the note and check off each concern after you get an answer.

Keep Track of Your Menstrual Cycle

Do you have an app to track your menstrual cycle? Having one makes it much easier to determine whether your cycles are normal or sporadic; in addition, your gynecologist will ask you when your last cycle was, so having it noted in your app will make this question easier to answer. It is important to talk about your menstrual cycle with your gynecologist in order to make sure there are no issues, such as polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), a thyroid condition, cervical or uterine cancer, or pelvic inflammatory disease (PID); conditions like this can cause changes to your menstrual cycle, and these changes can be the first indication that something is wrong. For example, PCOS affects between 1 in 10 women ( up to 5 million American women), and more than 50% of women don’t know they have it. Keeping track of your menstrual cycle, and speaking up about any issues you notice could mean the difference between getting a diagnosis for a condition like PCOS, and allowing it to get worse.

Talk About Everything…And We Mean Everything

a line split with a pink condom on one side and pills on another side of a line — *Do not be afraid to talk about your sexual health, including any vaginal issues, STIs, or birth control.*

Roughly 30% of women admit to lying to their gynecologists. Some issues are not easy to talk about, such as previous or current STIs, abortions, miscarriages, or how many sexual partners you’ve had, but this information is very important for your gynecologist to have so they can better understand your health and can better treat you. Leaving out important information could be disastrous for your health! For example, if you have had unprotected sex and are worried about STIs, bring this up and ask questions. Or does cancer run in your family and are you terrified that you could end up with breast, uterine or ovarian cancer? Make sure to bring that up, and ask how to perform breast exams, whether you should seek genetic counseling, or what other things you can do to catch these cancers early. Think you might be beginning menopause or perimenopause because you’re experiencing vaginal dryness, hot flashes, or mood changes? Talk about it so you can better understand it, know what to expect, and better prepare for this major change in your life.

Follow up

Your relationship with your gynecologist shouldn’t end when you walk out of their office. If you have any follow-up questions or concerns after your visit, call them and ask away; even if you do not get to speak with your gynecologist, a nurse or physician’s assistant (PA) will be able to answer your questions.

Your gynecologist’s office should be a safe space for you to talk freely about anything regarding your vaginal, sexual, and overall health. Remember, your gynecologist has heard anything you have to say before, so don’t feel embarrassed to talk about the heavy stuff that is important to your health – not being prepared to talk about these things could be detrimental to your health. It’s their job to keep you healthy and they will not judge you!

It’s important that you’re comfortable with your gynecologist, so if you do not like your current doctor or are looking for a new one, you’ll need a health insurance plan that covers the doctor you want to see. Comparing plans in your area is the best way to find a plan that offers great coverage and covers your choice of doctor, and the best way to compare plans is to come to EZ! EZ will compare plans in your area for free, and will find an affordable plan with comprehensive coverage that covers your doctors, medications and more. To get free instant quotes on plans in your area, simply enter your zip code in the bar above, or to speak with an agent, call 888-350-1890. No obligation.

Major Insurer Moves To Deny Some Emergency Room Claims

UnitedHealthcare, the country’s largest health insurance company, is looking to crack down on unnecessary emergency room visits with a new policy, which was originally set to go into effect on July 1st. The insurance carrier is planning to begin scrutinizing all emergency room claims to determine if they are actually medical emergencies; if these claims are found not to be true medical emergencies, the claims will either be denied, or covered on a limited basis, depending on the patient’s insurance plan. However, because the company has received backlash from doctors, hospitals, and the American Hospital Association (AHA), UnitedHealthcare released a statement on June 10th, saying that they will postpone the new policy until the end of the pandemic. So, what can policyholders expect in the future when it comes to emergency room coverage?

Why UnitedHealth Postponed The Policy

illustration of people with masks on being seen by doctors — *Doctors and hospitals are condemning UnitedHealthcare for the new policy, especially during a pandemic.*

The American College of Emergency Physicians have been pushing back against the new policy, pointing out that the change could mean patients will avoid going to the emergency room for fear of large hospital bills. Doctors and hospitals are especially worried that people with true emergencies, such as a heart attack, will not go to the hospital, which could result in serious damage, or even death. They also worry because many serious conditions have symptoms that overlap with less serious conditions, and patients need to be able to seek emergency care for diagnosis.

Because of the controversy surrounding the new policy, which seems especially poorly-timed during a pandemic, the Minnesota-based health insurance company has decided to postpone the policy until the pandemic is over.

“Based on feedback from our provider partners and discussions with medical societies, we have decided to delay the implementation of our emergency department policy until at least the end of the national public health emergency period,” Tracey Lempner, spokeswoman for the Minnesota-based insurer, said in a statement. “We will use this time to continue to educate consumers, customers, and providers on the new policy and help ensure that people visit an appropriate site of service for non-emergency care needs.”

What Customers Should Expect

One of the reasons UnitedHealthcare wants to crack down on emergency room claims is that hospitals charge more for procedures performed at a hospital as compared to procedures performed in other settings, and they feel that customers are using these expensive services unnecessarily. In fact, based on data from the UnitedHealth Group, UnitedHealthcare’s parent company, emergency department misuse costs the U.S. healthcare system roughly $32 billion annually. The insurer would prefer that as many less serious issues as possible be handled in a non-hospital setting, which would cost the company and patients less.

“We are taking steps to make care more affordable, encouraging people who do not have a health care emergency to seek treatment in a more appropriate setting, such as an urgent care center,” Lempner said.

large medical bill with a credit card and pen on top of the bill. — *If the emergency room claim is denied, then patients will have to pay for the bill out of pocket.*

So how will the new policy work and what will its effect on patients be? According to UnitedHealthcare, they will not apply the new policy to those with Medicare Advantage plans or contracted Medicaid coverage, but it will apply to everyone else, including employer-sponsored plans. The only other exceptions are for children under 2 years old, and observation stays. The company will evaluate emergency room claims based on the patient’s medical concern, the intensity of diagnostic services performed, and other patient complicating factors.

It is projected that as many as 1 in 10 claims could be rejected under this new policy, but there is an appeals process. If a claim is denied, the hospital can submit evidence that the visit met the definition of an emergency consistent with the prudent layperson standard, which requires insurance companies to provide coverage for emergency care based on symptoms, not the final diagnosis.

“If the event is determined to not be an emergency, the claim will be paid based on the member’s benefits,” Lempner said, adding, “We estimate that nationally less than 10% of [emergency] claims will be classified as non-emergent through this program.”

When the pandemic is over, the policy will take effect in 34 states and the District of Columbia: Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Washington, D.C., Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia and Wisconsin.

How To Know If You Are Experiencing A Kidney Stone

Your kidneys serve a very important purpose: they flush out the toxins from your body, removing waste from your blood, which gets turned into urine. But if there is too much waste and not enough fluid in your blood, the waste can stick in your kidney, creating clumps, otherwise known as kidney stones. These stones can be as small as a grain of sand or grow as big as a gold ball, but even the smallest of stones can cause excruciating pain when they pass through your urethra. Kidney stones can happen to anyone at any time; in fact, roughly 1 out of every 10 people in the U.S. will get a kidney stone at some point in their lives. So how do you know if you have one? The best way to know if you are experiencing a kidney stone is to familiarize yourself with the symptoms so you can know what to expect; you should also know how to treat them, as well as ways to prevent these horrible little stones.

What Are Kidney Stones?

Everyone’s kidneys produce salt and minerals made up of calcium or uric acid, which eventually travel to other parts of the urinary tract. But if you don’t drink enough water, which helps clear the toxins in your body, too much salt and minerals will collect in your urine; the excess minerals will not dissolve properly and will clump/crystallize in your kidneys.

“Typically, you start getting symptoms once you get obstruction,” explains Steven Rosenberg, MD, a urologist at The Iowa Clinic. “The kidney kind of has a funnel where urine exits that’s called the ureteropelvic junction. An obstruction usually occurs when the stone passes out of the kidney and gets stuck in that funnel or in the ureter, the tube that’s between the kidney and the bladder.”

In other words, you can have kidney stones in your kidneys for years without feeling symptoms, until the stone moves through the ureter, or the tube that pushes urine from your kidney to the bladder. This movement can be very painful – so painful, in fact, that more than a half a million people go to the emergency room each year for kidney stones. In some cases, your doctor will tell you that it will pass on its own, but in other cases, you might need to have a procedure done, which will help break down or remove the stones.

Risk Factors

As we mentioned earlier, anyone can get a kidney stone, but men are more likely to get them than women, and non-Hispanic Caucasians are more likely to have them than people of other ethnicities. There are some risk factors that can contribute to your likelihood of developing kidney stones, including if:

person's belly with their stomach grabbing the fat. — *Being overweight can contribute to your likeliness of having a kidney stone.*

You have had kidney stones before.
You have a high protein, sodium, or sugar diet.
You have polycystic kidney disease or another cystic kidney disease.
You are overweight.
You are dehydrated.
Someone in your family has had kidney stones.
You take medications, such as water pills, that can lead to dehydration.
You have a condition that causes your urine to contain high levels of cystine, oxalate, uric acid, or calcium.

Symptoms Of A Kidney Stone

If you have ever had a kidney stone, you know the excruciating pain that comes with it, causing misery and agony. But many people are unaware that a kidney stone can be around for a long time without you knowing it, and if it is small enough, you will experience no symptoms at all, even as it passes. But if it is big and begins to pass and gets lodged, you will definitely know…

“You can have a kidney stone for 20 years and never know it. Then, all of the sudden, for no reason, it just decides to pass. And that’s the moment you develop pain,” says Steven Rosenberg, MD.

Symptoms that accompany these large and painful kidney stones include:

illustration of a woman in bed with a thermometer in her mouth — *Fever and chills are signs of a kidney stone.*

Pain when urinating
Constant urge to urinate
Cloudy or foul-smelling pee
Sharp pain in your back or lower abdominals- you will usually feel it in your lower back, side, underneath your rib cage, lower abdominals, or groin.
Blood in urine
Fever and chills
Nausea and vomiting

Kidney Stone Treatment

Treatment depends on the size of the kidney stone. If it is causing pain and blocking your urinary tract, your doctor will conduct urine and blood tests, and order x-rays, and/or a CT scan. If it turns out the stone is small, your doctor will give you pain medicine and tell you to drink a lot of fluids; however, if it is large, your doctor might treat it with:

Shock wave lithotripsy– An hour-long procedure during which shock waves break up the kidney stones into smaller pieces, allowing them to pass.
Ureteroscopy- The doctor uses a long tool to find and remove the stone or break it into smaller pieces.
Percutaneous nephrolithotomy– A surgical procedure during which a tube will be put into the kidney to remove the stone.

How To Prevent Kidney Stones

Dietary and lifestyle changes are your best way to avoid the buildup of minerals in your kidney, and prevent kidney stones from occurring. It is especially important to drink enough fluids throughout the day to help flush out toxins. You should also:

Limit sodium and animal protein in your diet- these are acidic and may cause kidney stones
Limit vitamin C supplements- consuming too much vitamin C can lead to stones.

Kidney stones are fairly common, and can pass without any issues; however, in some cases, passing one can be extremely painful. If you experience any of the symptoms above, see your doctor immediately; they will figure out the best way to get rid of the kidney stone by determining whether it is small enough for medication or large enough that it needs to be broken down.

Testing and treatment for kidney stones is necessary in order to help ease the pain and to make sure they are flushed out of your body safely – and if you do not have sufficient health insurance, all of this can be costly. EZ can find you a plan that provides the right amount of coverage at an affordable price, and we’ll do it at no cost to you. Our trained agents work with the top-rated insurance companies in the country, so they can compare plans in minutes. We will help guide you through the process and sign you up, all for free! No hassle or obligation. To get free instant quotes, simply enter your zip code in the bar above, or to speak to a local agent, call 888-350-1890.

Adapting To Life With A Colostomy Bag

Did you know that approximately 1 in 500 Americans are living with a stoma, or a surgical opening in the body created for the discharge of bodily waste? According to the United Ostomy Association, more than 500,000 Americans have had an ostomy, which is surgery that creates a stoma in order to treat certain diseases of the digestive or urinary tract. There are 3 different kinds of ostomies; colostomies are the most common type, and leave those who undergo the surgery with a colostomy bag to collect waste removed from their body. But are colostomy bags a temporary fix or are they permanent?

What Is A Colostomy?

operating room with someone on the table and doctors surrounding — *Colostomy occurs when a part of your colon needs to be removed, leaving a stoma.*

A colostomy is surgery that removes a part of the colon that is diseased or has been damaged by illnesses like inflammatory bowel disease, including Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, or diverticulitis. During the procedure, surgeons will create an opening, called a stoma, and bring out a portion of the large intestine through the belly so that waste has an alternative way to leave the body after the diseased part of the colon is removed. To collect that waste, a plastic pouch, or colostomy bag, will be fitted over the stoma to collect the stool that leaves through the opening.

This kind of surgery will keep you in the hospital for a few days to a week. While there, you will be taught how to change your colostomy bag and keep the skin around the stoma clean.

Is a Colostomy Bag Permanent?

There are 4 different types of colostomies, and the type of surgery you have will generally determine if your colostomy bag is going to be temporary or permanent. If the colostomy is performed due to injury, then in most cases the colostomy bag will be a temporary fix while your body heals. However, if you have colon cancer and you need to have surgery to remove your colon, the colostomy bag might be permanent.

You can have a temporary colostomy bag for weeks, months, or even years depending on the condition. Your colostomy bag might become permanent if you are diagnosed with:

Blockage
Diverticulitis
IBS
Crohn’s disease
Ulcerative colitis
Colorectal cancer
Abnormal growths in the colon called polyps

Caring For Your Colostomy Bag

In order to prevent leakage from your colostomy bag, The American College of Surgeons recommends changing the bag when it is between ⅓ and ½ full. How often you will need to change your colostomy bag will depend on the size of the bag: the smaller the bag, the more frequently you will have to change it, while bigger bags will need to be changed less often and can last overnight. When it is time to change the bag, you will need to :

Wash your hands with antibacterial soap.
Push down on your skin and peel the bag from the stoma.
Remove the bottom of the bag and empty it into a toilet.
Clean the stoma with a washcloth, warm water and soap.
Pat the area dry.
Attach the new bag with adhesive on the outside of the stoma.

Washing and drying the stoma completely is key to avoiding the most common problem of redness and soreness. If the skin is ever raw, red, or leaking fluid, you will need to contact your doctor right away.

Life With A Colostomy Bag

caucasian woman running — *You can still exercise, shower, and have sex with a colostomy bag.*

While being given a colostomy bag is a huge life change that can feel overwhelming in the beginning, you can still live a normal life with one. You will most likely be able to eat the same things you ate before, shower, take baths, have sex, and exercise after you get clearance from your doctor. As we stated, colostomies are more common than you think, but if you are embarrassed, uncomfortable, or just don’t want people to know that you have a colostomy bag, you can hide it. The pouches are small and flat enough to hide under your clothes, and they are made to trap odors. No one needs to know you have one, unless you want them to!

A health condition that requires a colostomy can occur at any time: you could get an infection or abscess, or an injury to your colon that causes a partial or complete blockage of the large bowel. In these cases, surgery, and a colostomy bag after the surgery, will be required in order to save your life, and if you do not have good health insurance, you will face a large bill.

Having the right health insurance plan can make a situation like this less scary, because you know you will get the best care and won’t have to worry about bills afterwards – after all, you will have enough on your plate adjusting to a colostomy bag!If you are looking to compare health insurance plans in your area, EZ can do so for free. We work with the top-rated insurance companies in the nation and can compare quotes and plans at no cost to you. We will find the best plan for your budget and medical needs. To get started, simply enter your zip code in the bar above, or to speak to a licensed agent, call 888-350-1890.

What Type Of Cancer Is Sarcoma?

Cancer is a scary word, and rightly so: an estimated 1,898,160 new cases of cancer will be diagnosed in the United States this year, and 608,570 people will die from the disease in that same time. But while most of us know that cancer is common, and that it can be deadly, many of us don’t have a full understanding of this disease, including all of the many different types of cancer that can occur. For example, we often think of types of cancer being described by the body part they originated in (like lung or breast cancer), but because some body parts contain multiple types of tissue, cancers are additionally classified by the type of cell that the tumor cells originated from. One such type of cancer is known as a sarcoma, which is cancer that occurs in the connective tissues in the body. This Sarcoma Awareness Month, we want to highlight this little understood form of cancer, including its symptoms, causes, treatment, as well as who it is most likely to affect, so you can know what to look out for and catch it early on.

What Is A Sarcoma?

Sarcoma is a form of cancer that usually begins in the bones or forms within the tissues that connect and surround other body parts (soft connective tissues). Because these soft tissues are nearly everywhere in your body, sarcomas can grow in any part of your body, appearing in fat cells, muscle, blood vessels, nerves, and tendons.

Around 60% of sarcomas start in an arm or leg, 30% start in the torso or abdomen, and 10% begin in the head or neck. Soft tissue sarcomas start out small and can go unnoticed, but will grow and eventually cause pain and interfere with the body’s functions. There are roughly 70 different types of sarcomas; each are named according to the normal tissue cells that they most resemble. For example, Fibrosarcoma resembles fibroblasts, which are the most common type of cells in connective tissue.

Risk Factors & Causes

Sarcoma is fairly rare in adults; in fact, according to the American Society of Clinical Oncology, adults only account for 1% of those who have the cancer. This type of growth is more common in children, representing about 15% of all childhood cancers. Unfortunately it is not clear what causes most sarcomas, and they sometimes occur seemingly at random in people with little or no family history. However, some risk factors have been identified by researchers:

light gray circle with little balls all around it; virus — *The herpes virus can increase the risk of Kaposi’s sarcoma.*

Inherited syndromes– Certain inherited syndromes can increase the risk of this type of cancer, such as neurofibromatosis type 1.
Radiation– Radiation therapy for other cancers increases the risk of developing soft tissue sarcoma later on.
Exposure to chemicals- Certain chemicals, such as herbicides, vinyl chloride, and dioxins can increase the risk of sarcomas that affects the liver.
Exposure to herpesvirus 8– This virus can increase the risk of Kaposi’s sarcoma, which typically occurs in people with weakened immune systems.
Chronic swelling, or lymphedema- If the lymphatic system is blocked or damaged, swelling from a backup of lymph fluid can occur, which can increase the risk of angiosarcoma.

Signs & Symptoms

Symptoms of sarcoma will depend on the type of sarcoma a person has. People with soft tissue sarcomas rarely experience any symptoms in the early stages, but symptoms will become more pronounced as the cancer progresses, and can include:

A lump or swelling that may or may not be painful
Pain in the bone, muscles, or nerves of the area where the sarcoma is located
An unexpected broken bone that occurs with little or no injury
Weight loss
Abdominal pain

Diagnosis & Treatment

IV bags hanging up with a hand near one of them — *Chemotherapy can be used to kill any sarcoma cancer cells left throughout the body after surgery.*

If you experience unusual pain, a lump that is more than 2 inches across, or any of the above symptoms, you should see your doctor, who will refer you to a pathologist if they suspect sarcoma. This type of doctor specializes in sarcoma; they will examine tumor samples to identify what type of sarcoma it is, and will perform an exam, run tests, and request imaging scans, such as an MRI or X-ray.

In the event that you are diagnosed with a sarcoma, your doctor can recommend:

Surgery to remove the tumor and surrounding tissue
Radiation therapy to destroy the cancer cells
Chemotherapy to kill any cancer cells left after surgery
Medications

If you have any unusual symptoms, it is important to get checked out by your doctor. We want you to have a great health insurance plan so you can see your doctor whenever you need to, without having to worry about the cost – so if you are looking for an affordable plan, come to EZ.Insure for help! EZ works with the top-rated insurance companies in the nation, which makes comparing and finding the best plan for you easier, and means you’ll get the best price possible. We provide quotes, compare plans, assess your needs, and sign you up for a plan at no cost to you – our services are free! To get free instant quotes, simply enter your zip code in the bar above, or to speak with a local licensed agent, call 888-350-1890. No obligation.

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