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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.
Confirming Your Sarcoma Diagnosis
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 Sarcoma
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.
Stages
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.
Staging Tests
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
Imaging tests to stage sarcoma may include:
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
- Computed tomography (CT) scans
- Positron emission tomography (PET) scans
- Bone scans
Biopsy
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.
Types of Treatment for Sarcoma
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.
Soft Tissue Sarcoma
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:
- Gastrointestinal stromal tumors, which is the most common sarcoma of the gastrointestinal tract.
- Leiomyosarcoma, which develops from the smooth muscle in abdominal and pelvic organs and blood vessels.
- Liposarcoma, which develops from fat tissue. Most often, it is found in the back of the abdominal cavity, but it can also be found in the soft tissues of the arms and legs.
- Pleomorphic sarcoma, which is usually found in the legs, but can also be found in the arms and abdomen.
Bone Cancer
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 Sarcoma Subtypes
Other common sarcoma subtypes include:
- Angiosarcoma, which forms in the lining of blood or lymphatic vessels.
- Chondrosarcoma, which develops from cartilage cells.
- Ewing’s sarcoma, which comes from very primitive cells in the body. It can start in either soft tissue or bone.
- Fibrosarcoma, which is a cancer of fibrous tissue.
- Malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor, which comes from nerves or related tissue outside of the brain and spinal cord.
- Rhabdomyosarcoma, which looks like developing skeletal muscle. Most often, it grows in the arms or legs, but it can also develop in the head, neck or urinary or reproductive organs.
- Synovial sarcoma, which is often found near large joints and is more common in young adults.
Resources
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.
Cancer Research Organizations
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
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
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
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
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.
American Society of Clinical Oncology
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.
American Society of Clinical Oncology
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.
Amputee Coalition
The Amputee Coalition provides information and resources to answer questions about living with limb loss and limb difference.
Visitors have access to a National Limb Loss Resource Center and the limb loss community.
CancerCare
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
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
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
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.
Natonal Comprehensive Cancer Network
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
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.
National Institute of Health
The National Institute of Health (NIH): Soft Tissue Sarcoma Treatment-Patient Version
A guide to general information about soft tissue sarcoma, stages of sarcoma and treatment overviews for stage I through stage IV.
Northwest Sarcoma Foundation
Northwest Sarcoma Foundation is a nonprofit organization committed to providing education and support.
The Foundation provides timely and accurate information regarding research and treatment options and offer overall support by creating local networks throughout Washington, Oregon, Montana, Alaska, and Idaho.
Sarcoma Alliance
The Sarcoma Alliance provides resources to people affected by sarcoma.
Visitors have access to information about finding a sarcoma expert, access to care, guidance, education and support.
Sarcoma Foundation of America
The Sarcoma Foundation of America (SFA) advocates for sarcoma patients by funding research and by increasing awareness about the disease.
Visitors have accesss to lists of medical centers and hospitals that treat sarcoma, clinical trials and education and financial assistance options.
Cancer Support Organizations
Our list includes local and national organizations that are dedicated to improving the quality of life for patients and family members through providing emotional support, education and community.
Outdoors For All
The Outdoors for All Foundation transforms lives through outdoor recreation
Outdoors for All enriches the lives of individuals with disabilities and families and helps them to get out and enjoy the great outdoors.
YMCA Above and Beyond
Above and Beyond Cancer eleveates the lives of those touched by cancer
Our survivorship programs are all-inclusive, so we invite everyone from newly diagnosed cancer patients to those anywhere in their cancer journey, as well as their supporters, caregivers, and the community to participate.
Northwest Sarcoma Foundation
Northwest Sarcoma Foundation (NWSF) provides support and education
NWSF was established to be a place of support and education for those who are living with a Sarcoma or other rare bone tumor disease in the Pacific Northwest.