University Hospitals Provides Hope for Children with Brain Tumors

As the most common form of solid pediatric cancer, brain tumors have surpassed leukemia as the leading cause of cancer death in children.

The Jennifer Ferchill Brain Tumor Center at University Hospitals Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital provides hope for children suffering from brain and spinal cord tumors. UH Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital surgical specialists offer personalized, comprehensive care for children and teens with brain tumors.

The Jennifer Ferchill Brain Tumor Center combines the expertise of two health care flagships: UH Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital and University Hospitals Seidman Cancer Center. Our physicians integrate pediatric cancer treatment with leading-edge neurological care. Through dedicated attention to the latest research and technologies, our center provides access to the most innovative treatments, including less traumatic, minimally invasive surgeries.

We offer a variety of effective treatment options such as intraoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Our specialists will soon be offering an innovative treatment called proton beam therapy. These tightly focused beams have proven to be as effective as conventional radiation, but with fewer complications.

Multidisciplinary Approach Means Complete Care for Children

The Jennifer Ferchill Brain Tumor Center at University Hospitals Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital offers comprehensive, multidisciplinary treatment that addresses the complex medical needs of children with brain and spinal tumors. Our expert team includes:

  • Surgical specialists
  • Pediatric oncologists
  • Neurologists
  • Endocrinologists
  • Child life specialists
  • Psychological specialists

Leading-Edge Expertise and Technology Optimize Results

Results at the Jennifer Ferchill Brain Tumor Center are among the best in the nation. After three years of being cancer-free, patients transfer to the Center for Survivors of Childhood Cancer where the primary focus is on long-term surveillance and social/educational support.

The Jennifer Ferchill Brain Tumor Center is specially staffed and outfitted to diagnose and treat brain and spinal cord tumors in children. Clinical trials conducted at the center give children early access to the most promising treatments and medications available in the U.S. The center also includes a fully-equipped laboratory for basic and clinical research. Our expert medical team uses the resulting data to help make treatment decisions that optimize patient outcomes. For example, Smart Start, a computer-guided balloon dissector that locates deep-seated tumors within the brain, was developed in the center’s minimally invasive neurosurgery laboratory.

The center also offers several unique programs for children, such as the Comprehensive Blood Conservation Program. Our special approach to pediatric blood conservation includes:

  • Minimizing the amount of blood drawn for testing
  • Using techniques to limit blood loss during surgery
  • Autologous donation, which involves collecting a patient’s own blood for later transfusion during procedures