Even as news reports about Finance Minister Arun Jaitley's trip to the US for medical treatment for soft tissue sarcoma, a rare type of cancer, are doing the rounds here is a closer look at the disease, that occurs when cells develop errors in their DNA.

It begins as a tumorous growth in the tissues that connect, support and surround other body structures. Though the disease can occur in any part of the body, it is mainly found to affect arms and legs of a person.

Surgical removal is the most common treatment for the disease. However, radiation and chemotherapy are also followed depending on the size, type and location of the aggressive tumour.

The disease may not display any noticeable signs or symptoms in its early stage. The swelling or lump will start appearing as the ailment progresses. It may cause acute pain if it puts pressure on nerves or muscles.

Jaitley, 66, had undergone a renal transplant surgery on May 14 last year. Officials have been tight-lipped about the trip which has come at a time when the Finance Ministry is busy with the preparations of the vote-on-account budget to be presented in the Lok Sabha on February 1 - his sixth and the last by the BJP-led NDA government in its current term.

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