Understanding Sarcoma | Confirming Your Diagnosis | Staging Sarcoma | Learn About Subtypes | Resources
Sarcomas are complex cancers that can affect patients of all ages. A number of sarcoma diagnoses may respond to initial treatment, but may recur (come back) or turn into advanced disease over time. In many of these cases, treatment options are limited and tumor biology can be very complex.
Sarcoma is a rare cancer that is often hard to diagnose and treat. It’s very important that we confirm your sarcoma and find out your subtype, so we can make sure to choose the right treatment.
To confirm a sarcoma diagnosis, you will get a clinical exam from a physician as well as imaging tests like magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computed tomography (CT) scans or positron emission tomography (PET) scans. Then, a biopsy will double-check the imaging results. The process is similar for bone cancers, but we may also use a bone scan.
Staging means finding out how far your sarcoma has spread within the tissue where it started or to other parts of your body. Accurate staging helps your physician predict which treatments are most likely to control your disease or put it into remission.
Sarcoma staging can be complicated, and it can be different depending on your subtype. In general, doctors use Roman numerals I (one), II (two), III (three) and IV (four) to name the stages of sarcoma. Stage I is the least advanced, and stage IV is the most advanced. Some stages can be subdivided even more, based on the unique features of your diagnosis.
To find out the stage of your sarcoma, you will need imaging tests and a biopsy. Imaging tests give your care team a visual of your tumor, so they can see its size and how far it has spread.
Then, a biopsy will confirm that there are cancer cells and show how abnormal the cancer cells look.
If your sarcoma is in a bone and you are over 40 years old, your doctor will recommend that you have a CT scan of the lungs and abdomen and a total body bone scan to see if your cancer may have started somewhere else in the body and spread to the bones.
Imaging tests to stage sarcoma may include:
Either with surgery or guided by an X-ray machine, a sample of the tumor is taken. This allows pathologists to examine and understand your cancer so they can classify it for treatment.
Sarcoma is often hard to treat, so it’s important to receive care at a specialized center with sarcoma expertise. At Fred Hutch, our experts offer multidisciplinary, team-based soft tissue sarcoma treatment as well as bone cancer treatment, including advanced therapies and new options that are only available through clinical trials.
These sarcomas develop in soft tissues, like muscles, fat, nerves, blood vessels, fibrous tissues or deep skin tissues. About 80 percent of sarcomas are in soft tissues.
The most common soft tissue sarcomas in adults are:
These cancers, also called osseous sarcomas, start in the bone. Bone cancers are much less common than either benign (noncancerous) bone tumors or secondary cancers that spread to the bone from other locations (such as the lung or breast).
The most common bone cancer is osteosarcoma, which develops from cells that form bone.
Other common sarcoma subtypes include:
There are many resources online for learning about your disease. Health educators at the Fred Hutch Patient and Family Resource Center have compiled a list of trusted sources to help you get started.
Whether you are newly diagnosed, going through treatment or know someone with cancer, our staff are available to tailor personalized resources and answer questions about support options in the community.
Our list of online resources provides accurate health information from reliable and reputable sources, like the National Cancer Institute (NCI), the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) and the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN).
American Cancer Society (ACS): Overview of Bone Cancer
If you have bone cancer or are a caregiver for someone who does, knowing what to expect can be helpful. Here you can find out all about bone cancer in adults, including risk factors, symptoms and how they are found and treated.
American Cancer Society (ACS): Overview of Soft Tissue Sarcoma
If you have soft tissue sarcoma or a caregiver for someone who does, knowing what to expect can be helpful. Here you can find out all about soft tissue sarcoma in adults, including risk factors, symptoms and how they are found and treated.
American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO): Guide to Bone Cancer
This is Cancer.Net's Guide to bone cancer. Here you can learn more about bone cancer, treatment, the latest research and clinical trials.
American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO): Guide to Soft Tissue Sarcoma
This is Cancer.Net's Guide to soft tissue sarcoma. Here you can learn more about soft tissue sarcome, treatment, the latest research and clinical trials.
ASCO Answers: Osteosarcoma
ASCO Answers is a collection of oncologist-approved patient education materials developed by ASCO for people with cancer and their caregivers. Here you can find illustrations and information on osteosacroma.
ASCO Answers: Ewing Sarcoma
ASCO Answers is a collection of oncologist-approved patient education materials developed by ASCO for people with cancer and their caregivers. Here you can find illustrations and information on Ewing sarcoma.
CancerCare: Coping with Bone Cancer
CancerCare provides free, professional support services for people affected by bone cancer, as well as bone cancer treatment information and additional resources.
CancerCare Treatment Update: Sarcoma
CancerCare provides free, professional support services for people affected by soft tissue sarcoma, as well as treatment information and additional resources.
National Cancer Institute (NCI): Bone Cancer-Patient Version
The NCI is the federal government's principal agency for cancer research and training. Here you can find more information about bone cancer treatment, research and coping with cancer.
National Cancer Institute (NCI): Soft Tissue Sarcoma-Patient Version
The NCI is the federal government's principal agency for cancer research and training. Here you can find more information about soft tissue sarcoma cancer treatment, research and coping with cancer.
National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) Guidelines for Patients: Bone Cancer
This step-by-step guide to the latest advances in cancer care features questions to ask your physician, patient-friendly illustrations and glossaries of terms and acronyms.
National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) Guidelines for Patients: Soft Tissue Sarcoma
This step-by-step guide to the latest advances in cancer care features questions to ask your physician, patient-friendly illustrations and glossaries of terms and acronyms.