Sarcoma - Mayo Clinic

There are over 50 subtypes of sarcoma. The precise and accurate diagnosis of your subtype is essential to getting you the right treatment. At Mayo Clinic, we use state-of-the-art imaging and minimally invasive biopsies, and our pathologists are global experts at diagnosing bone and soft tissue cancers. Over 40% of diagnoses are modified when reviewed by a specialized sarcoma pathologist. That's why having an experienced sarcoma team matters. 

At Mayo Clinic, your sarcoma team takes the time to understand your unique cancer, so we can help you beat it. Mayo Clinic uses specialized molecular tests to accurately identify your exact sarcoma subtype, a practice uncommon at most hospitals in the U.S.  

Diagnosing sarcoma can be challenging. Hospitals from around the U.S. send their imaging and biopsy results to Mayo Clinic for review because our pathology team has expertise in diagnosing sarcomas accurately. For people unable to make the trip to Mayo Clinic, we offer virtual second opinions with our specialists. Getting a second opinion is always the right choice for your health. 

Our multidisciplinary team approach provides you access to the very best care plan. You meet with your team of experts through a condensed appointment itinerary, saving you time and getting you into treatment faster. Your team may include medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, surgeons specializing in sarcoma treatment and specialists in physical medicine and rehabilitation.  

Treatment is individualized for your exact sarcoma subtype and unique needs. At Mayo Clinic, you have access to the latest treatment options, including a wide range of surgeries, limb-sparing surgery when possible, radiation, proton beam therapy, chemotherapy and innovative clinical trials. Your team incorporates your priorities and works with you to develop a treatment plan that meets your needs. 

Your journey with Mayo Clinic continues after you return home. We collaborate and communicate with your doctors at home, so you can get the best possible care on your terms. 

When you have a rare cancer like sarcoma, it’s essential to get care from specialists who understand how your cancer behaves and know what treatment plans work best and uniquely for you. Studies show people who are treated at cancer centers with extensive sarcoma experience have better outcomes. At Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Center, our expert sarcoma team provides world-class treatment and hope to people with sarcoma.  

Mayo Clinic is an esteemed National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center, driving the future of cancer care through groundbreaking research, clinical trial access and innovative therapies. Mayo Clinic is top-ranked in more specialties than any other hospital, according to U.S. News & World Report, and has been designated as a Chordoma Center of Excellence.  

Isaac Garcia's Story – Bone Cancer Care at Mayo Clinic

Isaac is the kind of person who’s so energetic and he loves doing things with his children. And he loves being outdoors. And just he's very adventurous and exciting. And I think that's part of why I fell in love with him to begin with. My name is Isaac Garcia. I'm 38 years old and I live in Rio Rancho, New Mexico. I'm married to Sarah Garcia, and we've been married for 15 years. In late 2014, I started having a dull pain in my groin and I was referred to a urologist by my local primary care doctor, which led to a misdiagnosis and an unneeded surgery and ended up delaying me finding out the real problem. So then I was referred to an orthopedic specialist here in Albuquerque. And the orthopedic specialist’s thought, since I rode dirt bikes a lot, I probably damaged something in a crash and is nothing big, it’s tendonitis. Let's get an MRI and we'll see what's in there and we'll it's not going to be a big deal. So we went to see the doctor and he came in and said, I have bad news for you. You look like what's going on is a malignant tumor in your bone. You need to see an orthopedic oncologist. My secretary will give you information and he left the room.

My wife and I were just floored, I cried a lot. It was not good news, you know? Horrifying news actually. I was very afraid that a diagnosis of a bone cancer meant he wouldn't be here. We drove all around that day trying to get in to see an orthopedic oncologist. The wait times were overs six weeks or more to even speak to a doctor. So I call my boss because I wasn't in any position to go to work the next day. And he told me don't give up, there's other places, go wherever you have to go. So I googled best bone cancer doctor and Mayo hospital came up. So my wife contacted the Mayo Clinic in Phoenix and they told us to fax my MRI report and some of my information to them and and they will get back to us. And that was on a Monday. And they called back the next day on that Tuesday and said be here Friday.

After we completed all of the tests and investigations and performed a biopsy, the diagnosis was a chondrosarcoma, a malignant bone tumor involving a very challenging, difficult location that was his hip socket. A chondrosarcoma is a purely surgical problem. There's no medical any other treatment options available for it. And the surgical treatment for this for him was to remove his entire hip joint, the ball and socket joint. Fortunately, we didn't have to remove any of the important muscles around his hip. But that presents a difficult problem to reconstruct for him. And there's basically three options. And one of them was just removal. And you don't put anything back in. So they remove your hip socket and the top of your femur and they don't put anything back and it's called the flail hip. And then the other one was to use the pelvic bone from a cadaver. And they, you know, make it fit and hope that it takes. Dr. Beauchamp really didn't like that idea either. He said that the best thing is a 3D printed titanium implant. This subsequent treatment of removing the hip joint has become almost the holy grail of orthopedic oncology. We can do it better than we've been doing before to be able to do the resection, to print the model, to design an implant, and the technology is there.

Yeah, Dr. Beauchamp came out, tell us it was a home run is the words he used to describe the surgery. He said I got all of it. It's clean margins. I got it all. The cancer is gone. Because of the Mayo Clinic, I'm back, you know, back to living a normal life. I just have a whole new appreciation for all the little things that you usually take for granted, they all mean a lot now, have a whole new appreciation for life. I would like to tell Dr. Beauchamp, I'm thank you so much to make such a huge impact my husband's life. And because of that, my life and my kids. By using this incredible technology that isn't everywhere else. He offered such a good outcome. He did such a good job. I would tell him thank you.

You Need an Expert Team That Knows Sarcoma. We’re Here to Help

A diagnosis you can trust.

Your treatment plan, on your terms.

Driving the future of sarcoma care.

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

Contact us to request an appointment.

Isaac Garcia's Story – Bone Cancer Care at Mayo Clinic

Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Center is designated by the National Cancer Institute as a comprehensive cancer center.

Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Center is nationally accredited by the American College of Surgeons' Commission on Cancer (CoC).