Animation - Diagnosing and Treating Soft Tissue Sarcoma

If you have a noticeable and unusual lump that isn't going away, bring this to your doctor's attention right away. The only reliable way to determine whether a tumor is benign or malignant is through a surgical biopsy. During this procedure, a doctor makes an incision or uses a special needle to remove a sample of tumor tissue. A pathologist examines the tissue under a microscope. If cancer is present, the pathologist can usually determine the type of cancer and its “stage”. Treatment for sarcomas depends on the stage of the cancer. Treatment includes surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy.