Sarcoma Survival Rate

The sarcoma survival rate varies based on a number of factors. The two most influential factors are the type of the tumor and the stage of the sarcoma at the time of diagnosis. For instance, sarcomas that develop in the soft tissues of the arms and legs and are diagnosed before they have spread to nearby tissues tend to have the best outcomes. These sarcomas have a five-year survival rate of approximately 90 percent.

While the type and stage of a patient’s sarcoma are important considerations, many other factors can also influence the sarcoma survival rate. These include:

• The patient’s age at the time of diagnosis. Pediatric patients often have very good survival rates, especially for low-grade rhabdomyosarcoma and infantile fibrosarcomas. Younger adults also tend to have better outcomes.
• The types of treatment a patient receives. Patients who have access to a comprehensive array of treatment options often have better outcomes, as a wider range of treatment options means a higher likelihood of finding an effective plan for a patient’s needs.
• The experience of a patient’s treatment team. Most sarcoma treatments, such as surgery and radiation therapy, require highly skilled delivery to be as effective as possible. That’s why many patients turn to Moffitt Cancer Center for their sarcoma treatment. At Moffitt, a collaborative team of surgeons, medical oncologists, radiation oncologists and supportive care providers – all of whom specialize in treating tumors of the soft tissues and bones – provide treatments that are tailored to each patient’s needs.

For the most part, sarcoma survival rate data does not take individualized factors into consideration. Instead, these statistics simply reflect the average experience of a large group of people, many of whom were diagnosed and treated before today’s therapies were available. As a result, it’s important for a patient to ask an oncologist about his or her unique case for a fully individualized prognosis.

If you’d like to meet with of the experts from Moffitt Cancer Center’s Sarcoma Program, you can do so without a referral. To learn more about the sarcoma survival rate and the steps you can take to improve your own prognosis, call 1-888-663-3488 or submit a new patient registration form online.