Lifespan Cancer Institute clinic dedicated to treating patients with very rare cancer

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WJAR) — Lifespan Cancer Institute clinic is dedicated to treating patients with very rare cancer.

Sarcoma disproportionately affects adolescents and young adults, who are otherwise healthy.

Marissa Mancini, of Pawtucket, is one of them.

This 29-year-old diagnosed just a few months after her first symptoms last November.

"I kind of had a kink in my neck," recalled Mancini.

By January, that kink developed in to a mass and some obvious symptoms.

"The left side of my face would start to tingle, and my left eye would start drooping," said Mancini.

Her diagnosis? Sarcoma, which is a rare cancer that accounts for only one percent of all cancers.

These often-aggressive tumors grow out of connective tissues such as bone, muscle or ligaments.

Mancini's tumor was extremely aggressive and in a delicate area.

"It was on my spinal cord and esophagus and trachea," explained Mancini.

It had to be surgically removed.

"I had two surgeries. Each surgery was about 12 hours long," said Mancini, who has since benefited from the new multidisciplinary sarcoma clinic at Lifespan.

"We're bringing together both pediatric specialties as well as adult cancer specialists who have expertise in treating sarcoma," said Dr. Bradley Denardo, a pediatric oncologist, who, along with Dr. Don Dizon, lead the team at the sarcoma clinic.

"Part of our multidisciplinary clinic is bringing novel, cutting edge treatments to these patients," he said.

Mancini is currently undergoing extensive chemo and radiation.

"It's very hard. I'm not going to lie," said Mancini.

But she's hopeful too, thanks to the care of the clinic.

"It's kind of like a one stop shop which is really great," said Mancini.

Also promising, a new clinical trial launching this fall, bringing together a tried and true therapy with a new medication.

If she fails her current therapy, Mancini's doctor said she could qualify for this new trial.