DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Histologically proven breast, head and neck, prostate, or cervical carcinoma or high grade (defined as grades 2 or 3) soft tissue sarcoma Sarcoma tumors must be confined to truncal or extremity locations Must have a clinical condition and physiologic status which demonstrates that the appropriate or standard initial therapy for the tumor is surgical biopsy or resection Tumors no greater than 15 cm in any diameter Hormone receptor status: Not specified