Sarcoma

At the Emory Sarcoma Center, located at Emory University Hospital Midtown, we have a multidisciplinary team of clinicians that has a specific interest and expertise in the diagnosis, assessment, and treatment of patients with bone, soft-tissue, and retroperitoneal sarcomas. Our team includes: surgical oncologists, orthopedic oncologists, thoracic surgeons, sarcoma medical and radiation oncologists, musculoskeletal radiologists, sarcoma pathologists, and palliative care specialists.

Our sarcoma team meets weekly at the sarcoma multidisciplinary conference to discuss cases, review treatment plans, and assess clinical trial eligibility.

The benefits of our multidisciplinary and highly-experienced sarcoma team include:

• Access to clinicians and surgeons who rank among the top cancer experts in the world.
• Availability of new treatment options within our sarcoma clinical trials program.
• Access to state-of-the-art imaging and radiation technology.
• Access to a nurse navigator to assist you throughout the evaluation and treatment process.
• Coordinated scheduling for appointments among various specialties.
• Access to support groups and education classes for you and your caregivers.

If a physical examination or other test suggests a sarcoma may be present, a biopsy will be performed in order to potentially further determine the type of sarcoma present. A biopsy involves obtaining a sample of tissue from the tumor that is then examined by our expert sarcoma pathologists.

Key factors include tumor size, tumor location, and aggressiveness of the tumor and whether or not the tumor has spread to other parts of the body.

One or more of the following types of treatment options can be used:

Surgery: Limb-sparing, function preserving surgery, with or without radiation therapy, is the standard surgical approach for patients with sarcomas. The tumor, along with a margin of normal tissue around it, is removed in its entirety. In the past, amputation was the standard surgical approach, but with limb sparing procedures, an amputation can be often avoided. For tumors that are in the abdomen or retroperitoneum, major abdominal operations are often required. Surgery, in certain circumstances, is also used to remove tumors that have spread (metastasized) to organs such as the lung and liver with the goal of potentially improving survival.

Chemotherapy: The use of traditional cytotoxic drugs to kill or slow the growth of cancerous cells and is commonly employed in the treatment of various types of bone and soft tissue sarcomas. Chemotherapy can be administered prior to surgery as part of a multimodality treatment approach in conjunction with radiation therapy or it can be administered as sole therapy in patients with advanced tumors. However, due to the rarity and diversity of sarcomas, chemotherapy should be administered by a medical oncologist with expertise and experience in the management of patients with sarcomas. Furthermore, our sarcoma medical oncologists are abreast of the novel drugs that are being identified and used as targeted therapy for certain sarcomas.

Radiation Therapy: Radiation plays a key role in the multimodality treatment of many bone and soft tissue sarcomas and is an integral component in the management of patients with soft tissue tumors of the extremity and trunk. Radiation is also routinely used in the palliative setting to improve quality of life. Our radiation oncologists use cutting edge techniques that minimize the toxicity of radiation to the surrounding normal tissue. Learn more about radiation therapy treatments and services.

In addition to delivering the highest quality medical care, we recognize the importance of the psychological and emotional aspects of living with a cancer diagnosis and of dealing with treatment. Our supportive oncology team addresses these issues in a timely manner with additional support from counselors, nurse navigators, dietitians and social service professionals.

We understand that this is a very stressful time. We welcome your questions and requests for help. Learn what to expect on your first visit.