• Home
• Complete Listing of Services
• Outreach Services
• Special Services

Center for Children's Cancer and Blood Disorders (Hematology/Oncology Unit)

The Center for Children's Cancer and Blood Disorders The Center for Children's Cancer and Blood Disorders at the Golisano Children's Hospital at University Hospital is our region's only provider of care to children affected by these disorders.

Our Team

The Center utilizes a multi-disciplinary approach to provide not only the best, state-of-the-art medical care, but also provides for the support for the emotional and educational needs of our patients and their families. In addition to our physicians, who are all board certified specialists in pediatric hematology and oncology, our team also consists of:

• Pediatric Nurse Practitioners
• Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Clinical Nurses
• Child Life Specialists
• Social Workers
• Medical Family Therapist
• Educational Liaison
• Parent Advocate

We all work together as a team to provide for the medical and emotional needs of our patients and their families.

Children's Oncology Group Participation

The Center for Children's Cancer and Blood Disorders is part of the Children's Oncology Group, an international group of pediatric oncology centers devoted to the state-of-the-art management of pediatric cancers. This allows our center to provide the most current therapy while keeping the children and their parents close to the support of family and friends at home. The treatment regimens are developed on a national basis so the treatment we provide is the same as that provided at centers such as Johns Hopkins, Boston Children's, and Memorial Sloan Kettering. Our participation on the Children's Oncology Group also allows us to contribute to the steady improvement in therapies that is now allowing nearly 80% of children diagnosed with cancer to survive their disease.

Children's Oncology Group

Pediatric Brain Tumor Center

Our Pediatric Brain Tumor Center brings together the multidisciplinary expertise of a pediatric oncologist, a radiation oncologist, a pediatric neurologist, and an education specialist. This assures the child is obtaining the utmost current assessments and care for their physical status as well as watching for potential future complications.

The KNOT Program

Our Kids Now Off Therapy (KNOT) program provides long-term, follow-up care, into adulthood, for individuals who have received treatment for pediatric malignancies. However, treatments such as radiation or chemotherapy can have long-term consequences for growing bodies. The KNOT program educates young patients about their disease and its treatment, promotes preventive medicine and provides ongoing consultation with the patients' primary care providers. We also strive to improve treatment of childhood cancers as well as management of long-term complications of therapy through clinical and laboratory research. As part of the national Children's Oncology Group, the staff networks with similar programs around the world. We are able to provide information gained from the most recent clinical studies, and also contribute to scientific knowledge by performing original research.

Bleeding Diseases

Our Center also cares for a variety of bleeding disorders such as von Willebrand's disease and Hemophilia. The child's care is coordinated with a nurse practitioner to assure the extensive education is understood not only by the parents but the child as well.

Sickle Cell Treatment Program

Our Comprehensive Sickle Cell Treatment Program is a state-designated service providing care to children and adolescents with sickle cell disease. The program staff is responsible for the care of all infants identified by New York State's newborn screening program. We ensure that families are educated about the disease and can partner with us and their primary care physician to provide the best possible care. Throughout the continuum of care of childhood, the care is focused on the prevention and treatment of complications. We have a physician who is board certified in Hospice and Palliative Care. Our palliative care program accepts referrals from any disease discipline that needs assistance is pain and symptom management, coordination of care and services or patient and family support. We also assist the primary care team in goal setting and communicating difficult decisions.

Cancer in the Classroom

A number of children develop learning disabilities as a result of either the cancer, for example a brain tumor, or the treatment of the cancer. An education specialist works with children and adolescents with cancer and other diseases to assure school education is individualized to meet the needs of this rare phenomenon. This specialist works with the families of children at risk and acts as a liaison with schools, coordinating school reentry and tutoring programs during and after therapy.