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Tumors are something that can affect anyone. And they can grow nearly anywhere in the body. But tumors can be complicated and vary widely both in where they’re located and in how serious they are. So with all the different types of tumors out there, it’s always worth taking the time to learn about some of them. So, let’s look at a fairly rare type of tumor: a myxoma.
A myxoma is a tumor that forms inside the lining of the heart. And because these tumors are located in such an important organ of the body, they can often be quite dangerous. So, what exactly is a myxoma? What are the symptoms? And how can you treat it?
What Is A Myxoma?
Tumors are formed when a collection of cells in the body begin to expand and multiply rapidly. This causes a solid mass of tissue to form. In the case of a myxoma, these cells begin to multiply in the lining of one of the atriums of the heart.
These tumors are usually benign, which means that they don’t carry the risk of becoming cancerous. A cancerous tumor is formed when the DNA of the cells become damaged. This defective DNA then replicates, consuming other cells. Luckily, this isn’t common in cases of myxoma, but even a benign tumor can cause problems, particularly when it is located in the heart.
We don’t know what causes these types of tumor to form. Lifestyle factors like smoking, drinking, or drug use may play a role. But Many researchers have suggested that genetics probably plays some role as well. In fact, these kinds of tumors seem to be most common in middle aged women, which suggests that there is likely an element of genetics deciding who is most likely to be affected by tumors in the heart.
But regardless of the cause, a myxoma can cause a wide range of symptoms.
What Are The Symptoms?
Some of the most common symptoms of this sort of tumor are difficulty breathing, especially when laying on your side or when you are sleeping, chest pain, dizziness, fainting, heart palpitations, and difficulty exercising.
In addition, the tumor can grow until it begins to actually obstruct the flow of blood to and from the heart. In this case, the condition can cause symptoms like pale skin around the fingers, a cough, swelling of the tissue in the fingers, fever, general discomfort, joint pain, and extreme weight loss.
In time, the tumor can grow large enough to actually lead to heart failure, which is why it’s important to see a doctor if you develop any of these symptoms. Early treatment can be a matter of life and death when it comes to any heart condition.
How Is It Treated?
The first step in treating any tumor is a diagnosis. A doctor needs to establish what’s causing the tumor and where it is so that they can prepare an effective method of treatment. To diagnose a tumor in the heart, a doctor will typically begin by asking you questions about your symptoms and family history. If your answers to these questions suggest to the doctor that you may have a tumor, they will then use an imaging device to look inside your heart.
These types of machines give the doctor an idea of where the tumor is and how large it is. This image allows the doctor to make a judgment on how best to remove it.
Unfortunately, there is currently no medication that can help to cure tumors in the heart. Most forms of medication prescribed for the condition instead focus on treating some of the potential complications, like congestive heart failure.
Instead, the most common way to treat these tumors is with surgical removal. This procedure is unfortunately somewhat risky, as it involves open heart surgery. Essentially, the surgeon will open the chest cavity and begin to physically cut away the tumor from the rest of the heart. In most cases, this is successful in resolving the issue. But there is always the risk that the tumor will be too large to remove. In some cases, the tumor has actually grown so far into the lining of the heart valve that to remove it would weaken the valve until it becomes susceptible to failure.
In these cases, the surgeon may actually have to replace the valve with an artificial one. And there is also the risk that if the surgeon does not remove enough of the tumor that it may grow back more aggressively.
As always, you should weigh the potential risks with your doctor.
So, let us know, have you have a tumor in the heart? How did you treat it? Tell us in the comments.
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