Division of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology

 

 

 

The Division of Hematology and Oncology at Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital includes a dedicated faculty and staff who work together as a team in the diagnosis and treatment of children with cancer or blood diseases; the Division also supports a variety of clinical and research programs, a consultation service, and a fellowship training program. The Director of the Division of Hematology and Oncology is Dr. Debra L. Friedman.

 

Services Provided

 

The physicians and staff of the Division of Pediatric Hematology-Oncology provide compassionate and state-of-the-art care for children with all forms of cancer and blood diseases. The following comprehensive specialty programs are available for children with unique needs. Please click on the titles for information on these special programs.

         

Pediatric Brain Tumor Program

Pediatric Cancer Program

Hemostasis-Thrombosis Clinic

Sickle Cell Disease Program (Red Blood Cell Disorder Clinic)

Pediatric Stem Cell Transplant Program

REACH for Survivorship Program

 

Did you know?

One in every 330 Americans develops cancer before the age of 20.  On average one to two children develop the disease each year for every 10,000 children.

In 2008 approximately 11,000 children were diagnosed with cancer in the United States.

In the past 20 years, the cure rate for childhood cancers has more than doubled, from approximately 30% to about 80%.

Despite these advances, cancer is the second leading cause of death in children, after trauma.

Although cure rates are up, the incidence of cancer continues to rise in all age, racial and ethnic subgroups-especially adolescents.

The Vanderbilt Childhood Cancer Center is one of a select group of national Cancer Institute- designated cancer centers in the southeast and the only one in Tennessee dedicated to providing the most promising therapies and advancing research for all types of cancer in children and adults. 

In 2008, approximately 135 children with newly diagnosed cancer received their care at Children's Hospital- about one new patient every three days.

In 2008, the Vanderbilt Childhood Cancer Program had over 900 hospital admissions and over 15,000 outpatient visits (over a 50 % increase from just 5 years ago).  The emphasis is on family-centered, exceptional patient care and on "translational research", where innovative therapies are rapidly brought to the bedside.

Dedicated facilities include clinic space and infusion area, a 12 bed HEPA-filtered Myelosuppression unit, and office research labratory space.

25 to 30 bone marrow transplants are performed each year in Children's Hospita'ls myelosuppression unit, including highly specialized unrelated marrow transplants and cord blood transplants.

A long term follow-up Survivorship Clinic has been established, with a donation from the Children's Fund and grant support from the Children's oncology Group, which focuses on the late effects of successful cancer treatment in patients who are five years of more beyond diagnosis. 

Please read the inspiring testimony of Caroline Sevier Hale, cancer survivor and 2006 Sign of the Times. Also, please review our Fact Sheet regarding the great work that has been done at the Tri Delta Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Clinic.

 

Caroline Hale is a smart, beautiful, 21 year-old college senior. But she'll never forget what it felt like to be just 13, and told that she had cancer. To have 13 types of chemotherapy, and 56 blood transfusions. No school, no sports, no visits with friends, no hair.Healthy now, yet forever changed, Hale has put her life-threatening experience to good use, a perfect ambassador for the Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt. Watch a video about Caroline's story.

 

© 2010 Eve of Janus Benefit, Inc.