Your dog was diagnosed with Soft Tissue Sarcoma, Grade III (or Incomplete Excision). Grade III STS represents ~10% of all STS. Local recurrence rate 75% after marginal excision. Metastatic rate significantly higher than lower grades. Compare 3 treatment options for dogs including Wide Excision + Post-Operative Radiation, Wide Excision + Adjuvant Doxorubicin, Metronomic Chemotherapy (Cyclophosphamide + Piroxicam) — with survival times, costs, and what to expect during treatment.
Pet Cancer Options — Soft Tissue Sarcoma, Grade III (or Incomplete Excision)
Canine Oncology Treatment Guide
Soft Tissue Sarcoma, Grade III (or Incomplete Excision)
Mesenchymal
About This Cancer
High-grade (Grade III) soft tissue sarcomas are significantly more aggressive than their lower-grade counterparts. These tumours arise from the same connective tissue cell types — fibrous tissue, peripheral nerves, blood vessel walls, fat, or muscle — but grow more rapidly, invade surrounding tissues more deeply, and have a much higher chance of spreading to the lungs and other distant sites. Without adequate surgical margins, the local recurrence rate is approximately 75%. Treatment typically involves wide surgical excision combined with radiation therapy and sometimes chemotherapy to address both local and distant disease. Importantly, any soft tissue sarcoma that has been incompletely excised also warrants aggressive follow-up treatment, regardless of its original grade, because residual tumour cells left behind have a very high likelihood of regrowth.
STS Grading System (Kuntz)
Based on mitotic index, degree of differentiation, and percentage of necrosis. Same system as used for Grade I-II entry. Grade III tumours score highest on all three parameters.
Prognostic Factors(3)
Minimum Workup(5 steps)
Median Survival Time Comparison
How long the average patient survives with each treatment
Each treatment is rated by how much published research supports its use. Solid bars indicate stronger evidence; dashed bars mean less certainty.
Please note: All treatment data is sourced from published peer-reviewed literature. Survival times and cost figures are approximate guides. Your pet's individual factors — including tumour grade, stage, and overall health — will influence outcomes and should guide all treatment decisions. The strength-of-evidence rating reflects how much research exists, not how strongly a treatment is recommended. This tool is designed to help you have informed conversations with your veterinary oncologist, not to replace them. Costs shown are US referral centre estimates and may vary significantly by region.