Counseling

Oncology social workers help you cope with the emotional and practical challenges of sarcoma. Contact us at 800‑813‑HOPE (4673) or info@cancercare.org.
Learn more about counseling.

Financial Assistance

Find resources and support to manage your financial concerns. Limited assistance from CancerCare^® is available to eligible families for cancer-related costs.

Support Groups

Connect with others in our free support groups led by oncology social workers.

We currently do not offer a sarcoma specific group. You may consider joining our general online support groups for people with cancer. Register now.

Community Programs

If you live in New York, New Jersey, or Connecticut, learn about and view the full calendar of our free community programs.

Connect Education Workshops

Listen in by telephone or online as leading experts in oncology provide up-to-date information about cancer-related issues in one-hour workshops. Podcasts are also available.

Upcoming Workshops

Sarcoma

• Update on Soft Tissue Sarcoma, Jan 31, 2020

General Topics

• Trends in Oncology and Treatment Planning: What You Need to Know, Mar 4, 2020
• Understanding the Costs of Care and Your Health Care Coverage, Mar 18, 2020
• Cancer and The Workplace: Understanding Your Legal Protections, Mar 25, 2020
• Participating in Decisions about Your Care, Apr 8, 2020
• For Caregivers: Care Coordination for Your Loved One Living with Cancer and Other Health Problems, Apr 22, 2020

Podcasts

Sarcoma

• Update on Rare Sarcomas, Oct 11, 2019
• Update on Soft Tissue Sarcoma, Oct 6, 2017
• Highlights from the 2017 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting, Sep 28, 2017

General Topics

• Care for Your Bones During & After Cancer Treatment: Tips to Improve Bone Health
• Preventing Chemotherapy Induced Nausea and Vomiting
• Participating in Decisions about Your Care
• New Trends in Cancer Survivorship
• For Caregivers: Care Coordination for Your Loved One Living with Cancer and Other Health Problems
• Understanding the Costs of Care and Your Health Care Coverage
• Update on Clinical Trials: How They Work
• Cancer and the Workplace: Understanding Your Legal Protections
• Trends in Oncology and Treatment Planning: What You Need to Know
• Managing the Side Effects of Immunotherapy
• Understanding the Role of Immunotherapy in Treating Cancer
• Managing Eye and Vision Changes Related to Cancer Treatments
• Joys and Challenges of Pets in Your Home When You Have Cancer
• Taking Your Pills on Schedule: Its Importance in Treating Cancer
• Caregiving for Your Loved One with Cancer
• Life with Graft vs. Host Disease (GVHD) Post Allogeneic Stem Cell or Bone Marrow Transplantation: New Treatment Approaches
• Current Perspectives on Cancer Survivorship
• Genomics and the Future of Cancer Treatment
• Genomics and Genetics: What is the Difference?
• Update on CAR-T Cell Therapy
• Treatment-Related Rash and Dry Skin
• Current Perspectives on Cancer Survivorship
• What Are Biosimilars? Understanding Their Role in Cancer Treatments: Current and Future Perspectives
• Managing the Side Effects of Immunotherapy
• Understanding the Role of Immunotherapy in Treating Cancer
• Taking Your Pills on Schedule: Why It Is So Important in Managing Cancer
• Preventing Chemotherapy Induced Nausea and Vomiting
• Managing Eye and Vision Changes Related to Cancer Treatments
• Mind Body Techniques to Cope with the Stresses of Cancer
• What Are Generic Drugs: Understanding Their Role in Cancer Treatment
• For Caregivers: Care Coordination for Your Loved One Living with Cancer and Other Health Problems
• Taking Your Pills on Schedule: The Importance of Adherence in the Treatment of Cancer
• Participating in Decisions about Your Care
• Cancer and the Workplace: Understanding Your Legal Protections
• Preventing Chemotherapy Induced Nausea and Vomiting
• Understanding the Costs of Care and Your Health Care Coverage
• Trends in Oncology and Treatment Planning: What You Need to Know
• Managing the Side Effects of Immunotherapy
• Living with Cancer Throughout The Cancer Journey
• Understanding the Role of Immunotherapy in Treating Cancer
• Managing Eye and Vision Changes Related to Cancer Treatments
• What Are Biosimilars? Understanding Their Role in Cancer Treatment: Current and Future Perspectives
• Managing Sensory Disruptions During Cancer Treatments
• For Health Care Professionals: Care Coordination for Older Men Living with Cancer
• Precision Medicine in Cancer Treatment
• Managing the Costs of Living with Cancer
• Advances in Treating Chemotherapy Induced Nausea and Vomiting
• Taking Your Pills on Schedule – Why It Is So Important in Managing Cancer
• Nutrition and Healthy Eating Tips During and After Cancer Treatments
• Cancer and the Workplace: Knowing Your Legal Rights
• What’s New in Managing Blood Clots During Cancer Treatments
• For Health Care Professionals: Care Coordination for Older Men Living with Cancer
• Understanding Diagnostic Technologies and Biomarkers
• Healthy Eating and Managing Weight Changes During Cancer Treatment
• Managing the Costs of Living with Cancer
• For Caregivers: Practical Tips to Cope
• Highlights of the Affordable Care Act
• Managing Cancer Pain: What You Need to Know
• Understanding Chemotherapy-Induced Neutropenia: Low White Blood Cell Counts
• Cancer and the Workplace
• Advances in Treating Chemotherapy-Related Nausea and Vomiting
• Young Adult Survivorship: Fertility, Sexuality and Intimacy
• Understanding the Affordable Care Act (ACA) for People Living with Cancer
• Helping Cancer Patients and Their Families Cope with the Stresses of Caregiving
• Managing Post-Treatment Neuropathy
• Stress Management for Caregivers: Practical Tips to Cope
• Changing Roles and Responsibilities for Caregivers
• Recapturing Joy and Finding Meaning
• Planning Your Comfort and Care at End of Life
• Using Mind/Body Techniques to Cope with the Stress of Survivorship
• Nutrition, Physical Activity and You: A Guide for People Living With Cancer
• Understanding the Important Role of Adherence in the Medical Management of Cancer
• Fear of Recurrence and Late Effects: Living with Uncertainty
• Money Matters: Finding Resources to Manage Cancer Treatment Costs
• Stress Management for Caregivers: Taking Care of Yourself Physically and Emotionally
• The Challenges of Coping with Cancer and Other Health Problems
• Weight Changes After Cancer Treatment: Why is it Happening and What Can I Do About It
• Mouth Pain and Discomfort: All You Need to Know About Mouth Sores and Oral Mucositis
• Helping Children and Teens Understand When a Parent or Loved One Has Cancer
• Chemobrain: The Impact of Cancer Treatments on Memory, Thinking and Attention
• Survivors Too: Communicating With and Among Family, Friends and Loved Ones
• Survivorship and Workplace Transitions
• Communicating with Your Health Care Team After Treatment: Making the Most of Your Visit
• Trouble Sleeping? Sleep Better to Feel Better: Tips You Can Use
• Helping Teachers and Educators Support Siblings of Children with Cancer
• Understanding Peripheral Neuropathy
• Survivors Too: Family, Friends and Loved Ones - Managing the Fatigue of Caregiving
• The Importance of Nutrition and Physical Activity
• For Parents, Caregivers and Professionals: Helping Brothers and Sisters of Children Living with Cancer
• Dental Health During Cancer Treatments
• Managing the Stress of Survivorship
• Medical Emergencies in Cancer Treatment
• Balancing Cancer and Careers: Living and Working with Cancer
• For Caregivers: Coping with Holidays, Special Occasions and Birthdays, Throughout the Year
• Survivors Too: Family, Friends and Loved Ones
• Rediscovering Intimacy in Your Relationships Following Treatment
• The Importance of Communicating with Your Doctor About Follow-Up Care
• Finding Hope and Meaning After Treatment
• My Treatment is Over: Why Do I Feel So Alone and Sad?
• Neuropathy and Joint Aches: New Post Treatment Challenges
• Managing Your Costs of Recovery
• Balancing Your Needs and Your Role as a Caregiver
• Is It My Cancer or Am I Getting Older?
• The Bereaved Caregiver in the Workplace
• Stress Management Tips for Survivors
• The Challenge of Creating Supportive Work Environments for Employees with Cancer and Their Caregivers

Publications

Read or order our free Connect booklets and fact sheets offering easy-to-read information about the latest cancer treatments, managing side effects and coping with cancer.

We currently do not offer any Sarcoma specific publications. You may be interested in these general-interest publications:

General Topics

• Coping With Cancer: Tools to Help You Live
• Caregiving for Your Loved One With CancerNew!
• Helping Children When a Family Member Has Cancer
• Communicating With Your Health Care Team
• Understanding and Managing Chemotherapy Side Effects
• Sources of Financial Assistance
• Finding Resources in Your Community
• If You've Just Been Diagnosed
• “What Can I Say to a Newly Diagnosed Loved One?”
• Caring Advice for Caregivers: How Can You Help Yourself?

Ask CancerCare

Every month, featured experts answer your questions about coping with cancer. View all questions and answers.

Sarcoma

• Q.

  A family member has been diagnosed and I think she should see someone who specializes in treating sarcoma (I don't think this is currently the case). Do you know where I can find that information? Also, do you offer a support group for people with sarcoma?

  A.

  You raise an important question regarding the importance of specialized expertise in the diagnosis and treatment of sarcoma, which is a cancer of the bone or connective tissues, including bone, fat, muscle, blood vessels, nerves, deep skin tissue and cartilage.

  Because sarcoma is rare, there is an initial challenge of determining which bone and soft-tissue tumors are sarcomas and which are benign (not cancerous). That is why it is important, wherever possible, to seek advice at sarcoma treatment centers. Experts at these centers have the latest information and important experience in diagnosing and treating this type of cancer. A list of some of these centers can be found on the Sarcoma Alliance website, www.sarcomaalliance.org. Your doctor may also be able to refer you to a nearby sarcoma treatment center.

  The Sarcoma Alliance offers list of support groups. At this time, CancerCare does not offer a support group for people with sarcoma, but anyone affected by sarcoma can join one of our other cancer-related groups, including those for young adults and caregivers. You can find all of CancerCare’s sarcoma-related resources, including workshops and publications, on our website.

  Answered by
  Sandra Tripodi, MSW, LCSW

  ∞ Direct link to this question

  Tags:sarcomasupport groups

• Q.

  Can you recommend good resources and information about rhabdomyosarcoma? My niece was just diagnosed.

  A.

  Rhabdomyosarcoma is a relatively rare form of cancer, but it is the most common type of soft tissue sarcoma in children. It is most common in children ages one to five, and is also found in teens aged 15 to 19, although this is more rare. This cancer can also occur in adulthood but that incidence is rarer still. Rhabdomyosarcoma can begin in many places in the body. However, it is most present in areas such as the head, neck and genitourinary tract. Its two most common forms are embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma and alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma.

  Treatment recommendations are based on the stage of the cancer and whether all the cancer was removed by surgery. Treatments include surgery, radiation therapy and chemotherapy. It is also recommended that those with rhabdomyosarcoma have their treatment planned by a team of health care providers who are experts in their field.

  When seeking sources of information online, it is important to visit websites that are reliable and up-to-date. The National Cancer Institute is a terrific resource, as is the Sarcoma Alliance. Cancer.net is a patient-friendly website from the American Society of Clinical Oncology.

  Answered by
  Sandra Tripodi, MSW, LCSW

  ∞ Direct link to this question

  Tags:sarcoma

Featured Resource

Magnolia Meals at Home

A meal delivery program that helps patients by providing nourishing meals to households affected by cancer. Is currently available in and around Woodcliff Lake, NJ and Andover, MA, Raleigh-Durham, NC and New Haven, CT (as well areas in New York, New Hampshire and Boston, MA). For more information please visit magnoliamealsathome.com or contact Kathy Nugent, LCSW at 800-813-4673, ext. 6809.

Stories of Help and Hope

Read inspiring personal accounts from people affected by cancer and the ways they've found to cope.

• Charles H., Diagnosed with sarcoma