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Childhood cancer is one of medicine's true
success stories; there has never been a more exciting time
in our field of medicine. Eighty percent of children diagnosed
with cancer survive their disease and go on to live productive
lives. Forty years ago, that figure was 40 percent. The Cancer
Care Program at The Children's Hospital is organized around
making sure that each child is given the best possible chance
to lead a normal, healthy life.
Our team cares for patients with a variety of
serious childhood diseases, including leukemia/lymphoma, brain
tumors, musculoskeletal and soft tissue tumors, tumors of
the kidney and liver, tumors of the eye, rare tumors, as well
as a host of blood disorders, including hemophilia, sickle
cell anemia, and common and rare anemias.
State-of-the-art diagnostic and therapeutic
capabilities allow us to treat cancers that only a short time
ago were considered untreatable. Additionally, our participation
in the Children's Oncology Group and other clinical trials
gives pediatric cancer patients access to more than 100 national
trials at any given time.
While we tend to the serious medical issues
with which an ill child or teenager is faced, the spirit of
family-centered care guides the cancer care team from the
start. For our patients, our goals include minimizing pain
and suffering, with a focus on keeping life as normal as possible.
For their siblings, we offer special attention and reassurance.
We help frightened parents make complex decisions and gain
confidence in moving forward. We work to enhance quality of
life for everyone as much as possible. And we have a comprehensive
long-term follow-up clinic that sends survivors into the world
with a working knowledge of their health care issues.
The primary care team
includes pediatric oncologists and nurses, surgeons and radiotherapists.
To meet all the needs of children with cancer, the multidisciplinary
team includes social workers, psychologists and child life
specialists who help children understand and comply with medical
and surgical procedures through play, art and other expressive
activities. Although these patients require the specialized
skills of many professionals throughout The Cleveland Clinic,
the Department of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology is considered
their "medical home."
Designed to inspire comfort
and peace of mind, the newly renovated department is genuinely
inviting. The space, which is more than three times its previous
size, includes 14 treatment rooms equipped with plenty of
activities (including computers!) for kids and parents, a
conference room for private time with families, and a patient
and family library. In addition to a children's waiting area,
the space includes a separate teen waiting area where older
kids can enjoy using a computer, foosball table and karaoke
machine.
Joanne
Hilden, M.D.
Karen
A. Bringelsen, M.D.
Michael
G. Levien, M.D.
Gregory
E. Plautz, M.D.
Jawhar
Rawwas, M.D.
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