Soft tissue sarcoma facts: - Soft tissue sarcoma is one of the
rarest types of cancer. About 9,400 cases were expected in the
United States in 2005, representing less than 1 percent of all
newly diagnosed cancers. - Soft tissue sarcoma is slightly more
common in males (5,500 cases) than females (3,900 cases). -
About 3,500 Americans were expected to die of soft tissue
sarcomas in the past year. - The five-year survival rate
(percentage of people who live at least five years after their
cancer is diagnosed) is about 90 percent for people with soft
tissue sarcomas that are found when they are small and have not
spread. For patients with sarcomas that have spread
(metastasized), the five-year survival rate is 10 percent to 15
percent. Advances in treatment in the past five years, however,
may result in improved prospects for recently diagnosed
patients. Soft tissue sarcoma is the growth of abnormal cells
that form a mass (tumor) in the body's soft tissues. These
tissues include muscles, tendons, fat, blood vesse