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If your referring physician has diagnosed you with a sarcoma based on your
biopsy results, the guide below is appropriate for you. We recommend that you
read through it in its entirety to prepare for your first appointment to the
Sarcoma Clinic, but you can also click on the links below to get a quick answer
to a specific question.
What should I bring to my first appointment or forward ahead of time?
What can I expect during my first appointment?
What if additional tests are needed?
How will treatment be handled?
What if I don’t have insurance, or don’t know whether insurance will cover my treatment?
What if I live far away from Huntsman Cancer Institute?
How do I get to Huntsman Cancer Institute?
Do you provide lodging recommendations and other visitor information?
What should I bring to my first appointment or forward ahead of time?
NEXTTOP
Frequently, X-ray and MRI images, biopsy results and clinic notes will assist the Sarcoma
Service staff in confirming your diagnosis of Sarcoma and determining your treatment options.
Therefore, we strongly recommend that you provide this information to us before or during
your initial examination.
Because X-rays and MRI images can be expensive to mail, we suggest that you bring these
with you to your first appointment. Other documentation, such as biopsy reports, your
physician’s clinic notes and radiographic reports can be faxed ahead to (801) 587-9792,
ATTN: Nancy Bender. Physician referrals can also be faxed ahead, and often are
necessary depending on the requirements of your insurance provider.
We also ask that you forward the tissue collected during your previous biopsy to us, along
with the pathology slides that were created from this tissue. The surgeon who performed
your biopsy will be able to help you with this. Send the slides and tissue (sometimes
referred to as the “block”) to:
Huntsman Cancer Institute
University of Utah
Attn: Michael Kennard
2000 Circle of Hope, Suite 2260
SLC, UT 84112-5550
What can I expect during my first appointment?
PREVIOUSNEXTTOP
As a new patient of Huntsman Cancer Institute and the Sarcoma Clinic, you will meet
with a member of the Sarcoma Service staff who will perform a physical examination
and document your medical history. You will also consult with a surgical oncologist
to discuss your symptoms and review the images, notes and test results you have provided.
At this point, the surgical oncologist will determine whether additional testing or a
biopsy is necessary and will discuss the next steps with you.
We recommend you bring a book or something to occupy your time while you wait for your
appointment. We recognize that you may be feeling very anxious about your symptoms, but
we strive to give each patient and their family the time they need to ask questions and
discuss treatment issues. It is often hard to adhere strictly to a schedule in these
circumstances, so we appreciate your patience and promise to treat you in accordance
with the same standard.
What if additional tests are necessary?
PREVIOUSNEXTTOP
Additional tests and studies may be necessary to assist the oncologists
with diagnosis or treatment decisions. For example, if a chest CT,
bone scan, and imaging of the cancer site has not been done, we will
schedule these tests for the same day as your clinic appointment or the
following day. We need to see these results before performing surgery
to remove your tumor.
How will treatment be handled?
PREVIOUSNEXTTOP
Treatment will begin as soon as you are ready. If radiation is necessary, we
will schedule an appointment for you with one of our radiation oncologists.
Should you require chemotherapy, the medical oncologist’s staff will assist
you in arranging hospitalization and treatment. If the sarcoma was not fully
removed during biopsy, a follow-up surgery may also be scheduled. However,
we often prefer first to treat the tumor with chemotherapy in an attempt to
reduce it in size before surgical removal.
What if I don’t have insurance, or don’t know whether insurance will cover my treatment?
PREVIOUSNEXTTOP
If you don’t have insurance or do not know whether your policy will cover treatment,
please contact our financial counselor at (801) 585-0128. They can determine whether
you qualify for state medical assistance or other programs that fund medical treatment.
If you have an insurance policy, they can also help you determine how much coverage it
will provide.
What if I live far away from Huntsman Cancer Institute?
PREVIOUSNEXTTOP
You are not alone. More than 25% of our patients live more than three hours away from
Salt Lake City. This can often make follow-up care logistically difficult to arrange.
While we prefer to handle follow-up care in person, it may be possible for us to
coordinate some of your care with local physicians. For instance, we may work with
your family physician to handle post-surgical wound care, or with a local oncologist
to administer a chemotherapy regimen. This is not an ideal approach to treatment, but
we recognize that in some cases, circumstances may necessitate special arrangements.
How do I get to Huntsman Cancer Institute?
PREVIOUSNEXTTOP
Huntsman Cancer Institute is located on the University of Utah campus just east of the
University Hospital and Clinics. Directions, map
and parking information is available online.
Do you provide lodging recommendations and other visitor information?
PREVIOUSTOP
Yes, lodging and visitor information is available online.
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