• Sarcoma, a type of cancer that appears in the bones and soft tissues
• Melanoma, the most serious type of skin cancer

Sarcoma

The sarcoma clinic brings together a team of specialists in one convenient location for patients. Advantages of the clinic for patients include the collaboration of specialties, aggressive treatments, clinical trial offerings, and the focus of a dedicated team of specialists.

To make an appointment in the Sarcoma Clinic, call 319-356-4200 or 319-384-5118.

Patients diagnosed with the disease can be referred for specialized care by their private physicians after a bump, lump, or swelling of the arm or leg is noticed. Referral requests can be faxed to 319-384-5117.
 
Physicians include:

• Mohammed Milhem, MD
• Ray Hohl, MD
• Joseph Buckwalter, MD
• John Buatti, MD
• Ray Tannous, MD
• George El-Khoury, MD  
• James Howe, MD
• Hisakazu Hoshi, MD
   
  Palliative care and rehabilitation specialists provide additional support.

The program received designation from the Sarcoma Alliance for Research Through Collaboration (SARC). This designation benefits patients by giving UI specialists access to more information for research and offering patients greater potential to be involved in clinical trials both nationally and globally. 

Melanoma

The melanoma clinic offers prevention information and screening to people with a high risk for melanoma, in addition to treatment and follow-up care. The clinic, held every Monday, is staffed by both a dermatologist and oncologist. Appointments with oncologists for patients already diagnosed with melanoma are available every Tuesday and Wednesday.

Appointments in the Melanoma Clinic can be made through the Dermatology Clinic with a physician's referral and on a self-referral basis. To schedule an appointment, call 319-384-9700. Referral requests can be faxed to 319-356-8317.

The Melanoma Clinic offers patients the collaboration of health care professionals from many specialties, including dermatology, ophthalmology, otolaryngology-head and neck cancer, oncology, surgical oncology, and radiation oncology. The clinic's specialists have expertise in treating melanoma arising in difficult spots such as the face and ears, and they can provide more aggressive treatments. 

Physicians in the Melanoma Clinic include:

• Mohammed Milhem, MD  
• Mike Messingham MD
• Hisakazu Hoshi, MD
• James Howe, MD
• Henry Hoffman, MD
• Culver Boldt, MD
• John Buatti, MD 

The rate of melanoma is on the rise across the nation, especially among people who work in careers with high exposure to the sun – such as road workers, construction laborers and farmers – and anyone who often vacations in warmer climates or tans frequently. Other risk factors include being severely sunburned between ages 3 and 20, being male and older than 50, a family history of melanoma, organ transplants, or bone marrow transplantation.

Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center is Iowa's only National Cancer Institute (NCI)-designated comprehensive cancer center. NCI-designated comprehensive cancer centers are recognized as leaders in developing new approaches to cancer prevention and cancer care, conducting leading-edge research, and educating the public about cancer.

For more information:

Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center

Sarcoma Alliance for Research Through Collaboration (SARC)