What is Synovial Sarcoma? Rare soft tissue cancer grips children in this California town as parents’ concerns intensify; check likely causes and symptoms

Synovial sarcoma, a rare and slow growing soft tissue cancer, has alarmed residents of Ladera Ranch and other Orange County cities, with about a dozen cases reported in children, NBC Los Angeles reported. The rise in these rare cancer cases has left parents deeply concerned. In the community, parents are compelled to believe something is causing children to develop the rare cancer.

"I think people need to listen and wake up and realize something is happening to our children," a parent Jessica Keetch said, as quoted by NBC Los Angeles. "This is not random." She said her 18 year old daughter, Haven, had her right foot amputated after being diagnosed with synovial sarcoma that health experts claim affects about 1,000 people each year in the United States, according to the news outlet.

"I'll always remember the day," Keetch said. "I'll cry thinking about it because it's the worst day for a parent you can ever have." Although there is no official data establishing a direct link between pesticides and this cancer, families in Ladera Ranch are pushing for their community to adopt non toxic alternatives.

What we know about Synovial sarcoma

Synovial sarcoma is a rare cancer that can develop in different types of soft tissue, including muscle and ligaments. It is frequently found in the arm, leg, or foot, and commonly occurs near joints such as the wrist or ankle, according to the National Cancer Institute. In some cases, it can also form in soft tissues of the lung or abdomen. This condition is sometimes referred to as malignant synovioma.

According to the government agency, one third of patients suffering with this rare cancer will be diagnosed under the age of 30 and it is somewhat more common in males. Synovial sarcoma accounts for 5 to 10 percent of soft tissue tumors, with one to two cases diagnosed each year per million people in the United States.

The symptoms of synovial sarcoma vary depending on where the tumor develops, but it is often first noticed as a painless lump. When located near a nerve, the tumor may cause pain or numbness as it grows, as per National Cancer Institute’s website.

To investigate these symptoms, doctors typically use imaging techniques such as X‑ray, ultrasound, CT scan, or MRI to capture detailed pictures of the tumor. A definitive diagnosis is made through a biopsy, in which a small sample of the tumor is taken with a needle and examined under a microscope by a pathologist to determine the type of cancer.

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