Hematology and Oncology
Overview
When a child has cancer or some type of disorder affecting the blood, specialized care is needed. Providing effective diagnosis and treatment for such conditions requires the care of doctors and other medical providers with expertise in oncology and hematology.
Pediatric Oncology Services
Even though pediatric cancer may still be relatively rare, it’s very real to the thousands of children and families affected each year. For Kentucky’s children and families, we offer a full spectrum of pediatric oncology and pediatric neuro-oncology treatment options provided by a multidisciplinary team including pediatric oncologists.
The types of cancer most common in children are different than those in adults and include both blood-based cancers and solid tumor cancers. We provide diagnosis and treatment for all types of cancer including:
- Bone cancer (including osteosarcoma and Ewing sarcoma)
- Brain and spinal cord tumors
- Leukemia
- Lymphoma (including both Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin)
- Neuroblastoma
- Retinoblastoma
- Rhabdomyosarcoma
- Wilms tumor
- Pediatric oncology treatment options will vary depending on the patient’s type of cancer and other individual health needs, but may include chemotherapy, radiation therapy, immunotherapy, surgery or a combination of options.
Pediatric Hematology at Kentucky Children’s Hospital
Blood disorders may be less well known than cancer, but they’re actually fairly common. Many children across the United States are affected by some type of blood disorder, including anemias, platelet problems, bleeding and clotting.
Conditions affecting the blood are treated by a specialty called hematology, provided by doctors called hematologists. If your child is experiencing a blood disorder or symptoms that may be indicative of one, our hematology team offers a full spectrum of diagnostic and treatment options.
This includes the diagnosis and treatment of blood disorders and malignancies, including:
- Anemias, including sickle cell disease, hereditary spherocytosis and thalassemia
- Bleeding disorders, including hemophilia and von Willebrand disease
- Bone Marrow Failure
- Low white blood cell count and neutropenia
- Thrombocytopenia (low platelets, including idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura)
- Vascular malformations
Children who have blood disorders can receive comprehensive care from our team of hematologists, nurses, pharmacists and social workers, giving your child a full-spectrum approach to treating blood disorders.
For patients who have hemophilia or other congenital bleeding disorders, treatment and other services are provided through the UK HealthCare Hemophilia Treatment Center.
Hematology services may include treatment related to all components related to the blood, including red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets, blood vessels, bone marrow, lymph nodes, spleen and the proteins involved in bleeding and clotting.