It seems like most cancers are organ-specific (lung, ovary, skin, etc) but I’ve never heard of heart cancer. Is there a reason why?
Edit: Wow! Thanks for all the interesting feedback and comments! I had no idea my question would spark such a fascinating discussion! I learned so much!
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I don’t know human med as well, but many forms of cancer can and do occur on or about the heart, though as another comment mentioned, typically not of the heart muscle itself.
Hemangiosarcoma is “relatively” common in the veterinary world, as well as a number of cancers that metastasize (originate elsewhere, but cancerous cells migrate through the body and form tumors elsewhere ) to the heart.
Rate of division of the cells is a major factor as mentioned above. Often Hemangiosarcomas on the heart will rupture, bleeding into the pericardium (sack around the heart) and constrict the heart’s ability to function leading to fatigue and death depending on the rate of bleeding. In this case it’s not really a “heart cancer” but a “blood cancer” and can happen anywhere, but on the heart is commonly rapidly fatal, and is “fairly regularly” seen by my spouse as a Veterinary Pathologist.
They also can happen elsewhere, and rupture, but may not cause as rapid of death, as they’re “only” bleeding internally, not constricting the heart function.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hemangiosarcoma
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