About Your Treatment

The treatment of sarcoma is individualized to the patient. Each patient is evaluated in a multi-disciplinary fashion by members of the sarcoma team, in order to determine the most effective treratment for that patient. The team consists of not only the physicians, but also clinical nurse specialists, social workers, physical therapists, occupational therapists, and nutritionalists. The patient's lifestyle, family, work neccesities, and leisure activities are all taken into account in order to develope the best treatment for the individual patient.

While most patients with sarcoma will be treated with surgery, both chemotherapy and radiation therapy are utilized in our armementarium. The specific drugs used in chemotherapy will be tailored to the patients overall health and well being. The manner of radiation delivery likewise will be chosen to best suit the patient. The order of treatments will also be determined and discussed in detail with the patient. The surgical componant of your care consists of removal of the entire cancerous part, inclusive of a cuff or margin of normal tissue surrounding the mass, and in one piece, in order to ensure that every cancerous cell is removed. Our dedicated bone/soft tissue pathology team is present in the operating room and assist in ensuring that every last cell is indeed removed. The reconstruction of the limb is done at the same time as the resection. The Mid-America Sarcoma Institute provides numerous reconstructive techniques and include prosthetic reconstruction, "growing" prostheses. cryosurgery, Bone and joint transplantation, muscle flaps and transfers, and numerous other options for the "limb at risk".

Your care does not stop with the delivery of treatment. The patient with sarcoma will be followed for many years using various imaging technologies, to assure that the cancer does not recur. All imaging studies can be performed on the same day as each follow-up visit and on site. We keep your primary care physician in contact through every phase of treatment. Many of our patients travel long distances for their treatment and follow-up and there are several affordable facilities (many with transportation provided) quite close to the Institute.

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