The American Cancer Society projects that 9,500 new cases of cancer among children aged 0-14 will be diagnosed in 2006. Leukemia and brain tumors account for almost half of all childhood malignancies. Other cancers may involve the sympathetic nervous system (neuroblastoma), lymph nodes (lymphoma), kidneys (Wilms’ tumor), bones (osteosarcoma and Ewing’s/PNET), muscle and soft tissues (rhabdomyosarcoma), and the eyes (retinoblastoma).
Treatments for childhood cancers may include chemotherapy, surgery, radiation therapy or immunotherapy. At
Rainbow Babies & Children Hospital and the Ireland Cancer Center, special clinical services include peripheral blood stem cell and cord blood transplantation, as well as a bone marrow transplantation program for allogeneic and autologous transplants. The Pediatric Oncology Program is a Bureau for Children with Medical Handicaps (BCMH) Bone Marrow Transplant Center and a member of the National Bone Marrow Registry.
Rainbow’s pediatric oncologists are pioneers in many cancer treatments. In 1995, they were among the first in the country to perform an umbilical cord blood transplant. As the only full-member institution of the Children’s Cancer Group in northern Ohio, Rainbow physicians also offer patients access to many promising new treatments through a host of clinical trials.
Strong collaboration between pediatric hematologists/oncologists at University Hospitals Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital and the staff and resources of the Ireland Cancer Center have brought national recognition to our pediatric cancer program. The Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology at Rainbow is a major referral center for children with leukemia, lymphoma, childhood solid tumors and brain tumors, and is a member of the Children’s Cancer Group.
Each new patient’s case is presented in weekly conferences where the team reviews the patient’s clinical presentation, pathology results, and films.
Meet the Pediatric Care Team: