If you or your loved one have been diagnosed with a soft tissue sarcoma, the Sarcoma Care Program at Columbia can help. Our surgeons have the experience and expertise to bring you the best quality care, as safely as possible.
What sets us apart
A Team For You
We deliver care through a multispecialty team of surgeons, medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, pathologists, nurses, and more. This entire team is in constant communication, meeting regularly to discuss each patient’s case and adjusting their personalized treatment plan as needed.
Surgery From Trusted Hands
Because sarcomas can come in many different forms and appear almost anywhere on the body, surgical treatment can get extremely complex. It is important to see a surgeon with extensive experience operating on many different sarcoma cases, including difficult to treat retroperitoneal sarcomas (found in the back of the abdomen) and pelvic sarcomas. Our surgical oncologists are amongst the most experienced in the country.
The Latest Clinical Trials
As a major academic facility, we are constantly conducting research to improve our understanding of sarcoma diagnosis and treatment. As a result, our patients can get access to the most promising clinical trials for innovative new treatments.
Our program is proud to be recognized as one of the top in the nation by US News & World Report
About Soft Tissue Sarcomas
Soft tissue sarcomas are uncommon cancers that form in fat, muscle, connective tissue, nerve sheaths, and vessels. In the United States, there are only about 13,000 soft tissue sarcomas per year compared to about 200,000 lung cancers per year. They can appear anywhere in the body. About half of soft tissue sarcomas occur in the extremities, and about one-third occur in the abdomen or trunk.
There are over 100 different subtypes of soft tissue sarcoma, with the most common subtypes being liposarcoma, leiomyosarcoma, gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST), undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma, myxofibrosarcoma, synovial sarcoma, and malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor (MPNST). All these sarcoma subtypes appear differently on examination and on imaging studies, grow at different rates, and have different responses to surgery, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and radiation. This makes soft tissue sarcomas an extremely confusing group of tumors to treat, and it is best that those with sarcomas are cared for by a dedicated sarcoma specialist. If you have a mass that may be a sarcoma, sarcoma surgeons can evaluate you even prior to any diagnosis.
We’ve put together the following guides to help you better understand sarcoma, from causes and diagnosis to treatment and outlook, as well as the unique considerations for sarcomas that develop in the retroperitoneum and pelvis.
Riding Through the Odds: Kieran Kelly’s Journey with Rare 59-Pound Tumor
Part of a Comprehensive Cancer Center
Our team works as part of Columbia’s Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, one of the only certified comprehensive centers in the country as determined by the National Cancer Institute. We have the resources, the personnel, and the passion to help put an end to cancer.
A World-Leading Hospital
Our hospital partners at NewYork-Presbyterian give us access to the latest technology, advanced diagnostic testing, and state-of-the-art operating rooms to make sure your treatment is fast, comfortable, and effective.
Columbia Virtual Visits
For some appointments, it may not be necessary to come into the office at all. We offer Virtual Visit telehealth appointments, so you can see your doctor from the comfort of your own home. When you contact us to make an appointment, our team will work with you to determine if a Virtual Visit is right for you.
In our series, Routine Procedures, we take a closer look at the daily habits—from breakfast choices to favorite shoes—that shape how our surgeons show up, treat, operate, plan, and keep going day after day.
Read what some of our surgeons have to say
Our Team
Because there are many different types of sarcoma, each with unique characteristics and responses to treatment, care from a team with specialized expertise in sarcoma is important. Our sarcoma specialists work together to evaluate and treat these complex cancers. If you have a mass that may be a sarcoma, our team can evaluate you even before a diagnosis has been confirmed.
Surgical Oncology
A surgical oncologist is a doctor who specializes in the surgical treatment of cancer. They are responsible for performing surgical biopsies as well as for conducting any surgical procedures to remove tumors or treat cancerous areas.
Bret Taback, MD
Liposarcomas and soft-tissue sarcomas sarcomas of the extremities, chest, and back
Medical Oncology
A medical oncologist diagnoses cancer and directs treatments such as chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and targeted biological therapies.
Radiation Oncology
A radiation oncologist is a doctor who specializes in using radiation treatments to treat cancerous growths. They are responsible for examining the patient to determine the proper dose of radiation, and will work closely with the surgeon and dosimetrist to create a plan to deliver the radiation safely and effectively.
Other Specialists We Work With
- Pathologists, who examine tissue and fluid to look for changes in cells in order to classify a tumor’s diagnosis and subtype and look for markers that will help your care team determine the best course of treatment for you.
- Orthopedic oncologists, who specialize in the diagnosis and treatment (including surgery) of bone cancer.
- Reconstructive/plastic surgeons, surgeons who are trained in operations to restore form and function to parts of the body.
- Nurses and nurse practitioners, who provide hands-on medical and supportive care along your journey. Nurse navigators may also help you through specific processes, such as enrolling in a clinical trial.
- Mental health experts, including our sarcoma psychosocial oncology team, who help you and your family cope with the wide range of emotions that come with a cancer diagnosis.
- Social workers, who can help you find resources in the community and provide emotional support.
- Integrative health practitioners, including reiki, massage, acupuncture, yoga therapy, meditation and more, to help you deal with the physical, mental, and emotional aspects of cancer treatment and survivorship.
- Nutritionists, to help you create and follow a plan that will support the healing your body must do during and after cancer treatment.
- Physical medicine and rehabilitation specialists, who help you regain function you might have lost due to surgery or treatment side effects.
- Spiritual practitioners, multifaith chaplains who can help with your religious, spiritual, and emotional needs and help you make decisions, participate in religious rituals, and more.
- Palliative care specialists, who are experts in reducing symptoms like nausea and pain.
Our Locations
Herbert Irving Pavilion
161 Fort Washington Avenue
8th Floor
New York, NY 10032
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Milstein Hospital Building
Room 7-002
177 Fort Washington Ave
New York, NY 10032
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We accept most major insurance plans and can verify your plan when you call to make your appointment. Medical records can be faxed to (646) 317-1294
We recommend the following resources to continue learning about sarcoma.
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