Beaumont Children's pediatric oncology and hematology specialists offer comprehensive diagnosis and treatment for infants, children, adolescents and early young adults with nearly every type of childhood cancer or blood disorder. Our specialists have decades of collective experience and offer the most advanced approaches to treatment of these conditions, including at the Children’s Skandalaris Family Center for Children with Cancer and Blood Disorders at Beaumont Hospital, Royal Oak.
Opened in October 2017, the new center features seven exam rooms, a private family consult room, a family pantry, a shared infusion area and four private infusion rooms for patients. The center also provides convenient access to proton therapy treatment, located in the same building.
In addition to the latest approaches and technology, Beaumont
pediatric oncologists and hematologists are committed to offering each
patient personalized care and unparalleled compassion in a convenient
and friendly atmosphere designed with families in mind.
Our specialists’ expertise includes diagnosis and treatment of:
- leukemias - commonly acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) or acute myelogenous leukemia (AML)
- lymphomas - commonly Hodgkin lymphoma, non-Hodgkin lymphoma or Burkitt’s lymphoma
- brain tumors - including juvenile pilocytic astrocytoma (JPA), medulloblastoma, ependymoma or glioma
- muscle, soft tissue and bone tumors - including rhabdomyosarcoma, Ewing sarcoma, osteogenic sarcoma and other less common sarcomas
- abdominal tumors - commonly neuroblastoma, Wilms tumor, hepatoblastoma and other less common abdominal tumors
- sickle cell anemia - including scheduled blood
transfusion or exchange therapy if needed, and all anticipatory care
such as transcranial Doppler and eye exams
- thalassemia syndromes - including scheduled blood transfusion
- benign blood disorders - including but not
limited to all anemias (iron deficiency, hemolytic anemia),
leukopenia/neutropenia, thrombocytopenia, pancytopenia
- coagulation disorders - such as von Willebrand disease, hemophilia or other factor deficiency
- thrombotic disorders - including comprehensive
treatment and anticoagulation for blood clots; counseling for disorders
such as Factor V Leiden mutation or antiphospholipid antibody syndrome
As an active member of the Children’s Oncology Group (COG), Beaumont
offers patients aggressive, state-of-the-art treatment based on
nationally approved research protocols. COG is the largest cooperative
pediatric cancer group in the world, providing care to 90 percent of
children with cancer in the United States and fostering ongoing
dedication to advancing care through research. Through COG, Beaumont is
able to provide patients access to the very latest approaches and
cutting edge clinical trials. Cooperation among these institutions has
led to the stunning statistic that today nearly 80 percent of children
and adolescents diagnosed with cancer will become survivors.
Conveniently located on the campus of Beaumont Hospital, Royal Oak,
our pediatric oncology and hematology program features a child-friendly
atmosphere designed to meet the needs of both children and family
members. Our multidisciplinary approach incorporates medical, surgical
and radiation oncology expertise.
The program includes a full-service outpatient infusion area where
patients can receive transfusion and chemotherapy treatments, all under
the supervision of our physicians. Care is delivered by specially
trained nurses who are certified by the Association of Pediatric
Hematology/Oncology Nurses to administer chemotherapy and blood
products. Our pediatric short-stay unit enables patients to finish
infusions in the early evening hours if necessary, without having to
stay overnight or return in the morning. Many families find this service
to be an incredibly valuable convenience.
We offer patients on-site support from the full spectrum of Beaumont
Children’s services and facilities, including experts in pediatric
intensive care, gastroenterology, infectious diseases, surgery,
orthopedics, behavioral medicine, social work, nutrition support
services and pediatric radiology, as well as dedicated pediatric
oncology pharmacists. We also collaborate closely with certified child
life specialists, who aim to reduce patient anxiety and ensure comfort
every step of the way.
The center also supports children and their families with:
- oncology-certified nurses
- dedicated pediatric oncology pharmacists
- certified child life specialists to reduce anxiety
- educational liaison
- nutrition experts
Gilbert Family Adolescent and Young Adult Program
This Gilbert Family Adolescent and Young Adult Program, housed in Skandalaris Family Center for Children with Cancer and Blood Disorders, provides medical
specialists, psychosocial services, financial counseling and academic and mentor support for adolescents and young adults ages 15 to 26.
The program expands Beaumont’s participation in clinical trials for adolescents and young adults, which has driven a dramatic reduction in mortality for younger children with cancer. There will be opportunity for additional research which focuses
on tumors related to underlying medical conditions such as neurofibromatosis
The Gilbert’s gift was inspired by their son Nick’s journey with neurofibromatosis and the care he received at Beaumont.
Pediatric Long Term Follow-Up Clinic
Many programs have been established to help Beaumont Children’s
pediatric oncology patients long after they complete their treatment. In
early 2008 we opened the Pediatric Long Term Follow-Up Clinic to study
the possible delayed effects of being a pediatric cancer survivor and to
assist patients with medical issues related to educational access,
insurance and employability. Our multidisciplinary team includes a
pediatric oncologist, pediatric oncology nurse navigator, pediatric
social worker, child psychologist and dietitian.
Pediatric Cancer Survivor Scholarship Program
Patients treated at Beaumont Children’s are eligible to receive
college scholarship grants from the Pediatric Cancer Survivor
Scholarship Program, one of only a few such programs of its kind in the
nation. Since its inception in 1990, the scholarship program has awarded
nearly $1 million to more than 100 students to help them move forward
in their lives.