What is synovial sarcoma? The rare cancer that took the life of Colombian journalist Sandra Zuloaga

An ‘unusual’ cancer took the life of a Colombian journalist. The disease was discovered in 2019 and the following year, oncologists informed him that the disease had spread, La 100 reported.

Sandra Zuloaga, originally from Antioquia, died at the age of 33. Her departure is painful for her family, her friends and the journalism community that will remember her for her courage.

“He was a very special person,” Verónica Madrid wrote online.

In relaying the painful information, Noticias Caracol noted: “A battle against a rare and aggressive form of cancer took the life of Sandra Zuluaga, a journalist from Antioquia who had been crying for help for months to be treated in the United States. ”

Pain in his hands was key in detecting cancer

Sandra Zuloaga had synovial sarcoma and the disease was discovered after she experienced pain in the palm of her hand, La 100 explained.

They indicated that the journalist “underwent two cycles of chemotherapy and several surgeries in an attempt to combat the sarcoma.”

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What is synovial sarcoma

According to the United States National Cancer Institute, one to two cases of synovial sarcoma are diagnosed annually in that country per million people.

They describe it as “a cancer that originates in various types of soft tissue, such as muscles and ligaments.”

The institute points out that it usually occurs in the arms, legs or feet and near joints, such as the wrists or ankles; It also forms in the soft tissues of the lungs and abdomen.

Synovial sarcoma is also called malignant synovioma.

And they emphasize that “one-third of patients with synovial sarcoma will be diagnosed before the age of 30. This type of sarcoma is slightly more common in men.”

When referring to the symptoms of synovial sarcoma, they report that “they depend on the site where the tumor forms, which is usually first noticed as a painless lump. If the tumor is near a nerve, it can cause pain or numbness as it grows.”

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a warrior

“On behalf of the Zuluaga Hoyos family, we thank you for the messages, the words and the endless support in Sandra’s process. Today our warrior went to rest. Thank you all for your support,” his family said, quoted in La 100.

The journalist was in Spain, a country she moved to because of the issue of her treatment, Zone Zero had just noted on September 11.

Sandra had said to the Colombian media: “I was diagnosed five years ago. “It is a form of cancer of the soft tissues (…) Because it is not very common, it affects a very small population, mainly children and young people.”

The publication noted that “emergency surgery left her without a thumb on her right hand.”

When Sandra Zuloaga was told by doctors “there aren’t many options” for her case, she turned to social networks to reach the United States.

He left several sentences that define his courage in his conversation with Zona Cero: “I have never been afraid of death, I have clung to life”, “I am aware of the disease, but I have never lost my life lived as if I were It. You assume that you will live your whole life, but you build happiness for yourself”, “Illness has been a teacher in my life” and “I experienced the happiest moments of my life when I had cancer”.

She said cancer took her mother’s life from her when she was a 16-year-old girl.

“I have a family in Colombia, two little nieces who I love and who are my driving force. My father and my brothers have always been with me (…),” said the journalist who “underwent more than five treatments in Colombia and Spain.” Rest in peace, Sandra.

Read more about synovial sarcoma here. (JO)