Cancer and Blood Diseases Expertise at Valley Children’s
The clear choice for pediatric cancer care is right here in the Valley. Children with suspected or confirmed cancer can stay close to their families while receiving the excellent care they need. The Cancer and Blood Diseases Center at Valley Children’s has the expertise and state-of-the-art facility to diagnose and manage all forms of cancer while delivering the child-friendly care and treatment you expect.
One of the largest pediatric healthcare networks in the country, Valley Children’s breadth of specialized services and depth of experience enable us to treat childhood cancer from the most common to the rarest conditions. Our multidisciplinary team includes an entire team of board-certified pediatric oncologists/hematologists with expertise in treating childhood cancer and conducting clinical research in pediatric oncology to improve care. Trained at top institutions across the country and beyond, these physicians have brought their skilled knowledge to our region.
Specialized Cancer Care Center for Expert Diagnosis and Individualized Treatment
The Center serves as one of the leading pediatric cancer facilities on the West Coast and the only provider of pediatric oncology services between Los Angeles and the Bay Area. The Center includes an outpatient center and a fully-equipped, 36-bed inpatient unit, Starship Craycroft. Our goal is to provide infants, children and adolescents quick access to care and an early diagnosis. Our experienced team can then develop an individualized treatment plan to ensure the best outcome.
Brain and nervous system cancers are the second most common cancer in children, making up about one-fourth of childhood cancers. A tumor in the brain can especially damage a child’s long-term development, potentially affecting their personality, ability to function, and growth. To improve diagnosis and treatment, our Neuro-oncologist, Dr. David Samuel, contributes valuable expertise as part of the diverse team – including neurosurgery, neurology, physiatry and radiology – that provides patient care. With in-depth training in this specialized field focused on brain and nervous system cancer, Dr. Samuel coordinates the patient’s multidisciplinary care and plays a key role in determining how best to treat the brain tumor.
Specialized Cancer Care for Developmental Needs of Children
Treatment for children with cancer or a blood disorder is different than an adult, from how children metabolize medications to varying effects of cancer therapies on their development. With over 60 years of pediatric experience, Valley Children’s primary focus is what is best for each individual child. We work with every child’s family to provide education on the child’s diagnosis and treatment options and help them understand what the information means. We direct them to additional resources and provide hope and comfort in what can be a devastating time. We treat every child as our own with a family-focused approach to all aspects of care.
Commitment to Improving Cancer Care
The Valley Children's Cancer and Blood Diseases Center is a member of The Children’s Oncology Group (COG), the world’s largest organization devoted exclusively to pediatric cancer research, supported by the National Cancer Institute (NCI). Valley Children’s is one of the largest participants in COG research protocols on the West Coast, working in collaboration with over 235 medical institutions to identify cancer causes and pioneer new treatments and cures.
Committed to exploring new life-saving therapies when available, the Center ranks in the top 4 percent in the nation for enrolling patients in therapeutic studies to offer the latest medications and treatment regimens. Involved in 80 ongoing clinical trials, the Center has more than 400 children enrolled on COG protocols at any given time. The Center serves more than 1,000 families, and diagnoses and treats over 120 new cases in children a year.
Expertise with Hematology Services
Valley Children’s Cancer and Blood Diseases Center also offers complete hematology services for all types of blood disorders. Our team performs outpatient blood, platelet and immune-globulin transfusions for our pediatric patients who require these regimens.
Valley Children’s Hemophilia Treatment Center (HTC) is the only federally funded center in the entire Central Valley recognized for providing comprehensive care to individuals with bleeding and clotting problems. Additionally, Valley Children’s HTC is involved in the Centers for Disease Control’s ongoing Universal Data Collection project, which benefits our bleeding disorder patients. The Treatment Center has participated in this blood safety and surveillance study since 2001. Valley Children’s hematology specialists also work with expert hematologists across the country to offer some of the newest treatments available for thalassemia, sickle cell disease and iron overload.