Pediatric Oncology

Pediatric Oncology

If your child or teenager has been diagnosed with cancer, it’s important for them to be seen by cancer experts before beginning treatment. Karmanos’ Pediatric Multidisciplinary Team, which includes Children’s Hospital of Michigan medical specialists, can help. Care is provided at Children’s Hospital of Michigan, the only tertiary care free standing children’s hospital in metropolitan Detroit as well as at Children’s Hospital of Michigan-Troy.

Karmanos’ Pediatric Specialists

Our Pediatric Multidisciplinary Team (MDT) provides comprehensive diagnosis and evaluation of children and teenagers with suspected cancer. Treatments include chemotherapy, surgery, radiation therapy, stem cell transplant and cellular therapies, as well as long-term survivor follow up services – whatever is appropriate for your child’s specific cancer and care.

Karmanos’ Pediatric MDT sees more than 100 new pediatric cancer patients each year and have more than 200 pediatric patients receiving ongoing cancer therapy. More than 2,000 patients are currently receiving ongoing surveillance monitoring after completing therapy.

Karmanos’ Pediatric MDT includes pediatric hematologists/oncologists, pediatric stem cell transplant specialists, pediatric general surgeons, neurosurgeons, ophthalmologists, urologists, orthopedic surgeons, otolaryngologists, plastic surgeons, anesthesiologists, diagnostic radiologists, pathologists and radiation oncologists. Additional members including nurse practitioners, nurse specialists, pharmacists, social workers, dietitians, child life specialists, psychologists and cancer geneticists. 

Cancers treated include:

• Bone Cancer
• Hodgkin Lymphoma
• Leukemia
• Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma
• Sarcoma (Soft Tissue Cancer)

All our Children’s Hospital of Michigan pediatric oncologists have membership or associate membership at the Karmanos Cancer Institute. Additionally, they are all certified by the American Board of Pediatrics in Pediatric Hematology and Oncology. 

Karmanos’ Pediatric MDT also affords parents the opportunity to enroll their child in a clinical trial, which provides care that is as good, if not better than standard cancer treatments. Clinical trials also pave the way in developing therapies that will help children with cancer in the future. 

Clinical trials are offered through the Children’s Oncology Group (COG) and encompass all types of pediatric and teenage cancers. Karmanos/Children’s Hospital also offer leukemia clinical trials through the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital — protocols not found elsewhere in Michigan. Children can also be enrolled in Nationwide Children’s Hospital clinical trials for brain tumors and the Blood and Marrow Transplant Clinical Trials Network clinical trials for stem cell transplants.  

Evaluation & Diagnosis

Each child is evaluated by our team of specialists and a customized treatment plan is formulated based on recommendations at our multidisciplinary pediatric tumor board (for solid tumors), pediatric neuro-oncology tumor board (for brain tumors), or hematology board (for leukemia). This also includes the use of tumor genomic analysis to identify targeted therapies.

Innovative, Individualized Care

Here’s what you and your child can expect from our Pediatric Multidisciplinary Team:

• A passionate, caring, expert team, giving your child the best chance of treatment success.
• A collaborative approach that considers all available treatment options, including clinical trials, for your child’s specific type of cancer.
• A carefully constructed treatment plan designed to achieve the best possible outcome for your child.
• Respectful, compassionate care that is responsive to your child’s emotional and developmental needs.
• Proactive, timely communication with you, your loved ones and your child’s pediatrician.

Appointment Information

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