Soft tissue sarcoma

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Survival rates

Cancer survival rates tell you the percentage of people who survive a certain type of cancer for a specific amount of time. Cancer statistics often use a five-year relative survival rate. This rate compares survival among people with the cancer and survival among people in the general population.

Survival rates can give you a general idea of how people with soft tissue sarcoma have done over time. But they cannot show exactly what will happen for one person. Outlook can be different depending on many factors. For example, the survival rate for soft tissue sarcoma can vary a lot among the many different types.

But for soft tissue sarcomas in general, the five-year relative survival rate is about:

  • 83% for cancer that hasn't spread. The cancer has not spread beyond the place it started. This also is called localized cancer.
  • 60% for regional cancer. The cancer has spread nearby to structures or lymph nodes.
  • 17% for distant cancer. The cancer has spread to parts of the body distant from where the cancer started. A common site of distant spread for soft tissue sarcoma is the lungs.

Survival rates are based on large groups of people. Your outlook may be different depending on factors such as:

  • Type of soft tissue sarcoma.
  • Tumor size and grade.
  • Whether the cancer has spread.
  • Your age.
  • Your treatment and how well the treatment works.

Some soft tissue sarcomas can be cured, especially when the cancer has not spread. Tumors that are smaller and have not spread to other parts of the body often have a better prognosis. Your healthcare team can explain what the survival statistics may mean for your specific situation. Talk with your care team if you want to know more about your prognosis.

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Sept. 11, 2026

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