Hematology/Oncology

For appointments call: (512) 628-1900

The 'Specially for Children Pediatric Hematology/Oncology subspecialty team provides full services for the children of Central Texas with chronic blood diseases and cancer. Our team includes highly trained oncologists, pediatric surgeons, radiation oncologists, pediatric oncology nurses, social workers, childlife specialists, educational liaisons, a clinical psychologist, parent advocates and a hospice program. Our physicians provide a comprehensive, multidisciplinary approach to the initial diagnosis, evaluation and treatment of children with cancer.

Our Program

Established in 1992, The Children's Hospital Blood and Cancer Center is a center of excellence specializing in the care of leukemia's, brain tumors and other disorders. Our Health care team is comprised of experienced professional who focus on addressing the emotions and concerns of the children and their families, while providing individualized, effective and progressive medical treatment. The crucial advantage of rapid diagnosis with access to the most modern treatments is available close to home for the children of Central Texas at Children's Hospital Blood and Cancer Center

Mission Statement

Our mission is to cure and prevent childhood and adolescent cancer and blood disorders. We are dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for each child and adolescent we serve through individualized treatment, compassionate care and research.

Each year approximately 270 children and adolescents are referred from Central Texas physicians to The Children's Hospital Blood and Cancer Center for evaluation of a possible blood disorder. Children with bleeding disorders such as Hemophilia and VonWillebrand Disease, and children with chronic anemia's (such as Sickle Cell Disease), platelet disorders and other diagnoses are routinely evaluated and provided with individualized treatments and guidelines to maximize healthy participation in school and minimize hospitalization.

Comprehensive Clinics are available for children and adolescents with Sickle Cell Disease and Bleeding Disorders:

Sickle Cell Disease Clinic

Provided by Dell Children's Medical Center of Central Texas and 'Specially for Children, is designed to offer each child with Sickle Cell Disease that following comprehensive services:

• An annual, well-child check-up with Pediatric Hematologist
• Group and individual learning activities about Sickle Cell Disease and healthy lifestyles with a Pediatric Hematology RN
• Group activities to promote self-expression and individual teaching of coping skills with a Child Life Specialist
• Printed educational materials
• Opportunities to meet other families with similar situations and experiences
• Access to support services including school visits and community resources

A major goal of the Sickle Cell Clinic is to promote and support the transition of each young person to a healthy adult.

Hemophilia Clinic

Hemophilia Clinic is designed to offer each child with Hemophilia, Von Willebrand's disease, and related bleeding disorders as well as individuals with clotting disorders the following comprehensive services

• Annual well-child check-up with a Pediatric Hematologist
• Dental, orthopedic and physical therapy evaluation
• Learning activities about hemophilia and thrombophilia and healthy lifestyles with a Pediatric Hematology nurse
• Activities to promote individual self-expression and learning of coping skills with a Child Life Specialist
• Printed educational materials
• Opportunities to meet fellow families with similar experiences
• Social Work consultation and access to other support services including school visits and community resources
• Access to participation in national research conducted by the Center for Disease Control and the National Institute of Health

A major goal of the Hemophilia Clinic is to encourage and teach parents/patients to treat bleeding as early as possible by infusing their own factor at home

Hemophilia Clinic is provided quarterly (March, June, September and December) by Dell Children's Medical Center of Central Texas and 'Specially for Children as an outreach program of the South Texas Hemophilia and Thrombophilia Center of Christus Santa Rosa Children's Hospital of San Antonio

Hematology Research

Hematology Research opportunities are expanding at Dell Children's Medical Center of Central Texas. Currently we are participating with groups investigating Hematologyissues such as ITP (Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura), Hemophilia and Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis. By participating with registries and studies internationally, physicians are able to combine and analyze data pertaining to certain Hematology issues. This allows them to learn more about the diseases and to formulate the best treatments

Ask your physician about research studies available at The Children's Blood and Cancer program.

The Children's Hospital Hematology Child Life Program helps children and adolescents understand their medical procedures, cope with the stress of illness and express their feelings in constructive ways

For our blood disorders program, Child Life Specialists offer the following special services:

PROGRAMS

• Child Life Dream Casters
• Child Life School Visit
• Sickle Cell Disease Family Fun Night

Camps

• Camp Ailihpomeh 0 for boys 7 - 17 with Hemophilia
• Camp Sky - for children with Sickle Cell Disease, 6 - 13 years
• Camp Rocky Ridge Teen Retreat - for patients with blood disorders, 13 years and older

The Children's Hospital Blood and Cancer Center diagnoses approximately 65 new children with cancer per year. Our Program participates in pediatric cancer treatment regimens designed by the Children's Oncology Group, an international research organization sponsored by the National Cancer Institute.

In addition to providing outpatient and inpatient chemotherapy and medical care our team coordinates care with the Austin Cancer Center for radiation therapy, home health agencies for treatment options in the home, and the Austin Area Candlelighters/Any Baby Can Childhood Cancer Foundation for patient and family assistance and support.

The Survivorship Center

Advances in our understanding of cancer, and in our ability to detect and treat it, have led to greater survival rates.  But experts have learned that sometimes cancer survival comes with a price and that, for many, life is never quite the same.  Our survivorship center has educational and support programs in place to address the long-term physical and emotional needs of childhood cancer survivors, and to offer them the tools to live as fully as possible.

It is important to the Children’s Ambulatory Blood and Cancer Program, Austin, Texas, to provide our patients with a continuum of care.  After they have completed their treatment, and routine follow-up care, cancer survivors can continue to receive excellent clinical care at the Survivorship Center.

The Survivorship Center, Austin, Texas provides clinical care, patient education, research opportunities and social support services to patients who are 2 years from the end of therapy.  The center and services are made possible by the Lance Armstrong Foundation.

As part of the survivorship program patients are given a thorough screening and health evaluation by our team – professionals who have dedicated themselves to learning about and dealing with survivorship issues.  Patients are provided with their treatment summary that lists therapy and medical information related to the patient’s diagnosis and any potential long term problems.  The treatment plan includes recommendations for patients and their primary care providers, ensuring that patients stay as healthy and informed as possible.  Treatment summaries are provided to the patient and their primary care provider.

CHILD LIFE SERVICES
for children and adolescents with cancer

The Children's Hospital Blood and Cancer Center's Child Life Program helps children and adolescents understand their medical procedures, cope with the stress of the illness and express their feelings in constructive ways.

Programs

• Child Life Hungry Bunch
• Child Life School Visit Program
• Focus Group
• Annual Childhood Cancer Awareness Fair

Camps

• Camp Discovery - for cancer patients 7-16 years; Provided by the American Cancer Society
• Camp Grey Dove - for school-aged siblings - Provided by Austin Area Candlelighters Childhood Cancer Foundation
• Planet Cancer's Young Adult Retreat - for patients 18-25 years; Provided by Planet Cancer
• Camp Rocky Ridge Teen Retreat - for cancer patients 13 years and older
• Camp Dreamstreet - for school age and adolescent cancer patients

Oncology Research

The Children's Hospital Blood and Cancer Center participates in cancer studies and protocols designed by the Children's Oncology Group. The Children's Oncology Group is an international research organization sponsored by the National Childhood Cancer Foundation of the National Cancer Institute. Children's Hospital is one of 238 member institutions in the United States, Europe, Canada, and Australia.

Due to the small number of children diagnosed regionally with cancer, it is important to conduct research through international cooperative study groups such as those offered through the Children's Oncology Group. By consolidating and analyzing the data, it has been possible to make treatment advances and significantly increase cure rates for childhood cancer over the past decades.