My child's sarcoma

On this page, we have information for parents about sarcoma in children, including information on the different types, and understanding their diagnosis. 

Types of sarcoma

Sarcomas are a group of rare cancers that can develop in the bones and soft tissues of the body.

There are two types of sarcoma:

1. Soft tissue sarcomas
2. Bone sarcomas (also known as primary bone cancer)

Each type behaves differently, and will require specific treatments.

Soft tissue sarcomas in children

Soft tissue sarcomas can develop in muscles, fat, nerves, and blood vessels.

Common types in children include:

• Rhabdomyosarcoma, which happens in the muscle and surrounding tissue
• Synovial sarcoma, which is often found in the area around the joints of the arms and legs
• Fibrosarcoma, which happens in the fibrous tissue in the body

Bone sarcomas in children

Bone sarcomas affect the skeleton and surrounding tissues.

The most common types in children are:

• Osteosarcoma, which mostly happens in the knee, thigh bone, shin bone, or upper arm
• Ewing sarcoma, which mostly happens in the pelvis, thigh bones or shin bones.

Understanding your child’s diagnosis

It’s normal to feel overwhelmed by unfamiliar medical terms. Here’s how to approach it:

1. Ask your doctor to explain in simple terms
2. Write down the exact name of your child’s sarcoma
3. Use Macmillan’s A-Z glossary to understand some key terms.

You should ask your child’s doctor as many question as you want. You’ll be receiving a lot of new information about cancer and treatment, so don’t be afraid to ask doctors to repeat the information.

What caused my child’s cancer?

Researchers are still trying to discover what causes childhood cancers.

Parents often worry that they did something to cause their child’s cancer. It’s important to understand that childhood sarcomas aren’t caused by anything you or anyone else has done.