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Soft tissue sarcoma has four stages: Stage I, Stage II, Stage III, and Stage IV.
Stage I:
During stage I of soft tissue sarcoma the tumor can be any size, but it is considered "low grade". The tumor will be expected to grow and spread slowly. This stage tumor may be at the surface of the skin or deep underneath the skin.
Stage II:
During stage II, the tumor is considered "high grade". The tumor is expected to grow and spread quickly, and can be close to the skin's surface or deep. Stage II tumors are normally sized anywhere from 1 centimeter to 5 centimeters.
Stage III:
During stage III, the tumor is again considered "high grade". By this time the tumor is normally exceeding 5 centimeters in diameter and is deep within the skin.
Stage IV:
During stage IV, the tumor is any size, and any grade. Normally by this time it has reduced in size, but has spread to and infected nearby lymph nodes. It may also have spread to other parts of the body infecting other soft tissues.
The higher the stage of the soft tissue sarcoma, the harder it becomes to treat and the lower the survival rate.
Stage I:
During stage I of soft tissue sarcoma the tumor can be any size, but it is considered "low grade". The tumor will be expected to grow and spread slowly. This stage tumor may be at the surface of the skin or deep underneath the skin.
Stage II:
During stage II, the tumor is considered "high grade". The tumor is expected to grow and spread quickly, and can be close to the skin's surface or deep. Stage II tumors are normally sized anywhere from 1 centimeter to 5 centimeters.
Stage III:
During stage III, the tumor is again considered "high grade". By this time the tumor is normally exceeding 5 centimeters in diameter and is deep within the skin.
Stage IV:
During stage IV, the tumor is any size, and any grade. Normally by this time it has reduced in size, but has spread to and infected nearby lymph nodes. It may also have spread to other parts of the body infecting other soft tissues.
The higher the stage of the soft tissue sarcoma, the harder it becomes to treat and the lower the survival rate.
(Sizes by which the sarcomas are classified)