UF Health Pediatric Sarcoma Center
Address
Gainesville, Florida 32608
Phone Numbers
Hours of Operation
See full hoursPediatric sarcoma comprises 15% of all childhood cancer diagnoses. Sarcoma is a form of cancer that can arise from the bone, muscle, fat, joints, nerves, blood vessels or skin. The mission of the UF Health Pediatric Sarcoma Center is to provide expert, comprehensive, leading-edge care for children and young adults diagnosed with bone or soft tissue sarcoma. Our team-based approach and our breakthrough research give our young patients an important advantage.
About Us
The UF Health Pediatric Sarcoma Center consists of a multidisciplinary team of highly experienced and compassionate professionals who will provide expert management of your child’s cancer. Children and young adults with sarcoma often require a combination of chemotherapy, radiation therapy and surgery for treatment. How doctors choose to use these treatments together influences the success of the treatment.
Our services bring together expert health care providers from many fields, including physicians from pediatric oncology, orthopedic oncology, medical oncology, pediatric surgery, cardiothoracic surgery, musculoskeletal radiology, radiation oncology, reproductive fertility and musculoskeletal pathology, as well as specialists in nursing, clinical pharmacy, social work, psychology, physical therapy, Child Life Services and nutrition. We meet weekly to discuss many aspects of your child’s health and develop an individualized plan for every patient.
The sarcoma program collaborates closely with the UF Health Proton Therapy Institute, one of nine centers in the country. The UF Health Pediatric Sarcoma Center is uniquely capable of providing world-class, forward-leaning care for children and young adults with sarcoma.
Patient Care
Our cancer center works with children and young adults during all stages of illness, from the time of diagnosis through all phases of treatment and follow-up care. Our care also encompasses pediatric patients who may have a tumor return after treatment and those whose treatment and tumor affect their daily function or lifestyle. We treat patients diagnosed with both common and rare bone and soft tissue sarcomas.
Research
The incredible improvements in cancer care have all come from research. Research holds the key to developing better, safer and more effective treatment options for children. The UF Health Pediatric Sarcoma Center is at the forefront of cancer discoveries and is dedicated to furthering research to better treat and cure sarcomas. Our center is a member of the Children's Oncology Group (COG), which is a National Cancer Institute (NCI) supported group and the world’s largest organization devoted to pediatric cancer research. It is also a member of Sarcoma Alliance for Research through Collaboration (SARC) global network, a nonprofit organization dedicated to the development and support of clinical trial research for the prevention, treatment and cure of sarcomas. We are also part of the Sunshine Project, a consortium of pediatric hospitals in Florida aiming to open Phase I clinical trials in the state using new medicines that are just being developed and tested. Through this, our pediatric patients have access to the latest options under investigation to improve cancer care for children.
Complementing our clinical research, we have a number of individuals from different departments and colleges collaborating to improve treatments for patients with pediatric sarcomas. Joanne Lagmay, MD, pediatric oncologist, collaborates with members of the departments of veterinary medicine, radiological engineering, chemistry, materials science and radiation oncology in the development of polymer‐mediated radionuclide therapies in a canine model for targeting osteosarcoma.
Furthermore, the NIH RO1-funded Musculoskeletal Oncology Laboratory headed by orthopedic oncologist Charles Parker Gibbs, MD, focuses on the molecular differences of the cells within individual patients’ tumors, identifying key cellular pathways responsible for tumor initiation in osteosarcoma and developing novel methods to induce reversal of the malignant character of cells in a patient's tumor. Our center could be the first to develop novel, investigator-initiated trials testing discoveries from these two basic research efforts.
Our experts
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C. Parker Gibbs, MDOrthopaedic Oncologist (Orthopaedic Cancer Specialist)
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Anatomic Pathologist, Cytopathologist
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Joanne Lagmay, MDPediatric Hematologist/Oncologist (Child Cancer Specialist)
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Shawn D Larson, MD, FACSPediatric Surgeon
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Orthopaedic Oncologist (Orthopaedic Cancer Specialist)
Related conditions and treatments
- Alveolar soft part sarcoma
- Angiosarcoma
- Bone sarcoma
- Chondrosarcoma
- Clear cell sarcoma of soft tissue
- Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans
- Embryonal sarcoma of the liver
- Epithelioid sarcoma
- Ewing sarcoma
- Fibroblastic/myofibroblastic tumors
- Giant cell tumour of soft tissues
- Leiomyosarcoma
- Liposarcoma
- Malignant fibrous histiocytoma (MFH)
- Malignant glomus tumor
- Malignant mesenchymoma
- Malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor
- Neoplasms with perivascular epithelioid cell differentiation (PEComa)
- Osteosarcoma
- Parachordoma
- Plexiform fibrohistiocytic tumor
- Rhabdomyosarcoma
- Soft tissue sarcoma
- Synovial sarcoma
Meeting your health care needs
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Medical Imaging Services
UF Health offers day-of, on-site imaging services in a qualified medical center.
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Med to Bed
Meds to beds is a bedside free service designed with your convenience in mind. Our meds to beds program allows a pharmacist to deliver your medications to you prior to your discharge from the hospital.
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Outpatient Lab Services
Full-service, on-site lab services and testing for your convenience.
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Patient Blood Management
Safe, effective medical and surgical techniques designed to prevent anemia and decrease bleeding during a procedure.
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Pharmacies
Accepts most prescription plans; competitive prices; on-site.
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UF Health Midwifery Group
Exceptional, individualized, compassionate and evidence-based midwifery care.
For your convenience and peace of mind
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Accessibility
Aids and services are available to help people with disabilities communicate effectively.
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ATM and Banking
Many of UF Health's properties have various branch ATMs and/or branch offices.
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Baby-Changing Station
Baby-changing stations are available in many of UF Health's restrooms.
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Caremail (Email Service)
Friends and family can send messages to any UF Health patient through the CareMail service.
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Coffee
Options include Opus Coffee and Starbucks in the hospital atriums.
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Free Wifi
Patients and guests get free wireless internet access at UF Health hospitals.
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Gardens and Outdoor Spaces
The Garden of Hope, Sun Terrace, and other spaces help patients and families relax.
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Gender-Neutral Restroom
Gender-neutral, public restrooms are located throughout UF Health's properties.
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Gift Shops
The Gift Stops offer a wide variety of gifts and products for patients and families.
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Interpreters / Hearing Impaired
UF Health provides free language services to people whose primary language is not English.
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Medical Records
You can download a form or call (352) 594-0909 to have medical records mailed or faxed.
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Notary Public
Notary services are available to patients and visitors Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
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Smoke-Free
Smoking, chewing tobacco, or using electronic cigarettes is prohibited on UF Health properties.
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Social Services
Social workers are part of the patient's care team and work with medical staff and nurses.
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Virtual Care
In some cases, UF Health offers telehealth care via a desktop computer, smartphone, or tablet.
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Virtual Visitation
In some cases, UF Health offers telehealth visits via a desktop computer, smartphone, or tablet.