Pediatric Sarcoma - Mayo Clinic

We know timely care is important, and our sarcoma specialists can meet with you quickly at Mayo Clinic Children’s Center. Excellent sarcoma care requires a precise diagnosis, a customized treatment plan, and expertise that comes with experience managing sarcomas. Our pediatric sarcoma doctors offer answers and certainty, so you can stop focusing on the “unknowns” and simply focus on your child. We are with your family every step of the way, during treatment and beyond.

Sarcoma is rare, and other cancer practices might see only one or two pediatric sarcomas per year. At Mayo Clinic Children’s Center, we help hundreds of children and adolescents with sarcoma every year, so you can feel confident your child is in expert hands.

There are over 50 subtypes of sarcoma. The precise and accurate diagnosis of your child’s subtype is essential to getting your child the right treatment. At Mayo Clinic, our pathologists are global experts at diagnosing bone and soft tissue sarcomas. Over 40% of diagnoses are modified when reviewed by a specialized sarcoma pathologist. That’s why having an experienced sarcoma team matters.

While there are many genetic tests for sarcoma, most centers don’t have genetic testing for children. Mayo Clinic Children’s Center has offered pediatric genetic tests for sarcoma since 2020. Our sarcoma specialists take the time to understand your child’s unique cancer, so we can help them beat it.

Mayo Clinic Children’s Center excels at quickly pulling together the right team needed for your child’s treatment plan. Our multispecialty team approach provides you with access to the very best guidance. You and your child meet with your team through a condensed appointment itinerary, saving time and getting your child life-saving treatment faster.

Your child’s team may include specialists in orthopedics, radiation oncology, pediatric orthopedic surgery, rehabilitation medicine and more. They recommend the best treatment options for your child’s unique cancer, including minimally invasive and robot-assisted surgery, which can mean smaller incisions, less pain and quicker recovery, as well as limb-sparing surgery and proton beam therapy. Mayo Clinic is the only center in the region providing proton beam therapy, designed for fewer side effects later in life by targeting only your child's cancer, not the surrounding healthy cells.

Mayo Clinic Children’s Center offers numerous clinical trials for sarcoma. We are also a member of the Children’s Oncology Group, a collaboration of hospitals around the U.S. giving children and adolescents access to promising clinical trials.

We are dedicated to healing your child and supporting their well-being. Mayo Clinic’s adolescent and young adult (AYA) cancer services are especially relevant to sarcoma because these tumors are often diagnosed in teenagers. Your child’s care team can provide social resources, clinical trial access and, when appropriate, fertility counseling and preservation options.

We know the effects of cancer and its treatment can cause unique concerns later in your child’s life. As your child grows, we’re here to help when questions arise. Because our pediatric and adult specialists work together, we can help pediatric cancer survivors in a meaningful way as long as they need us.

Our support doesn’t end when your family leaves our campus. We collaborate and communicate with your doctors at home, so your child can get the best possible care at their convenience.

Our sarcoma expertise, world-class treatment and devotion to helping children and adolescents make Mayo Clinic Children’s Center the best place to go if your child has sarcoma. Our pediatric cancer team is with your family every step of the way, providing answers, certainty and hope.

Mayo Clinic Children's Center is ranked the #1 children’s hospital in Minnesota and is top-ranked in more specialties than any other hospital, according to U.S. News & World Report.

The heart of a fighter and a team of heroes behind a young cancer patient.

July 5th of 2017, Payton was diagnosed with Rhabdomyosarcoma, stage 2, group 2. Highly aggressive. If you don’t get radiation, she will not get rid of this cancer. When you get hit with like “wait mommy, I could die from this?”, it was very real. So we decided so early on, Payton was going to beat cancer. Treatment was twenty-eight days, of proton radiation, focused on her tumor.

Mayo Clinic worried about how to beat Rhabdomyosarcoma, we worried about Payton having a smile on her face. After Payton’s treatment, we’ve had nothing but positive news. She’s three and a half years cancer free, and gets to be a little girl.

Sarcoma Expertise, Plus the Compassionate Care Your Child Deserves

Our specialty care starts at diagnosis.

The very best sarcoma treatment for your child.

Meeting your child’s unique needs, now and as they grow.

World-class treatment, and a soft spot for kids.

When it's time to find answers, you know where to go.

Contact us to request an appointment.

The heart of a fighter and a team of heroes behind a young cancer patient.

Mayo Clinic Children’s Center in Rochester, Minnesota is a Level 1 Children’s Surgery Center, the highest verification awarded by the American College of Surgeons (ACS).