Why You Need a Second Opinion

If you have a diagnosis or a suspicion of sarcoma, you need a second opinion. We will ensure you get it without delay.

We’ll obtain your scans and other medical reports, have Roswell Park’s sarcoma experts who focus on this rare and complex cancer review them promptly, and set up a consultation with our team.

Many of our patients travel to receive cancer care at Roswell Park. If you live far from Roswell Park, we can help arrange what works best for you, including virtual consultations or receiving some of your care closer to home. Call 1-800-ROSWELL (1-800-767-9355) or click the button below to submit a request online.

Why it matters for sarcoma

If you have a suspicious mass that could be sarcoma – regardless of body location – a Roswell Park sarcoma expert should see it first. Here’s why:

  • You might avoid surgery. Our advanced diagnostic techniques may determine whether your tumor is benign, in which case you may not need any surgery, not even for a biopsy.
  • Some treatments should begin before the tumor is removed. Preoperative therapies like chemotherapy and radiation therapy are often used to prevent tumor cells from spreading and to improve surgeons’ ability to remove it entirely, with clear margins. If your tumor is already removed before coming to Roswell Park, your treatment choices may be limited.
  • Sarcoma tumors are unique. Sarcoma tumors have a fragile outer capsule that contains the cancer cells into a mass. If the outer capsule is damaged during biopsy or an operation to remove it, cancer cells can “spill” from the tumor, allowing them to spread or regrow. In addition, microscopic cancer cells often infiltrate beyond what appears to be the edges of the tumor and these tumors often occur near critical blood vessels and organs. Sarcoma tumors should be biopsied and/or removed only by a highly skilled and experienced surgeon who specializes in this rare cancer.
  • Less-invasive biopsy. Core needle biopsy that’s guided by imaging such as ultrasound or computed tomography (CT) reduces the risk for cancer cells to spill from the tumor. This helps reduce the chance that the tumor will recur or that a patient would need more drastic surgery, such as amputation. Image-guided core biopsy takes only minutes with little or no discomfort.

Make an appointment Why Roswell Park for sarcoma?