Pediatric Cancer

Pediatric or childhood cancer happens when cells that are not normal grow and spread very fast in a certain part of a child’s body. Normal cells grow, divide and then die; cancer cells do not stop growing and dividing. Instead of dying, cancer cells may come together to form a tumor, such as:

• Neuroblastomas
  
• Brain tumors
  
• Wilms or other kidney tumors
  
• Bone and soft tissue sarcomas
  
• Retinoblastomas
• Other rare tumors, such as melanomas, carcinomas and thyroid cancer

Not all tumors are cancerous, and not all childhood cancers form tumors. Some cancers involve the blood and the organs that make blood in the body. These include:

• Leukemia and lymphoma
• Histiocytic and lymphoproliferative disorders

The Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center of Children's Healthcare of Atlanta cares for more kids with cancer than anyone else in the Southeast, treating more than 500 newly diagnosed patients each year. Because of the size of the center, we are able to offer comprehensive programs specializing in each of the major types of childhood cancer. Every child who comes to the Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center for treatment is cared for by a team that is focused solely on his or her disease.

Our comprehensive programs include:

• Adolescent and Young Adult Cancer Program
• Bone and Soft Tissue Sarcoma Program
• Brain and Spinal Cord Tumor Program
• Cancer Predisposition Program
• Cancer Survivor Program
• Developmental Therapeutics Program
• Fertility Preservation Program
• Germ Cell Tumor Program
• High-Risk Leukemia and Lymphoma Program
• Immunohematology and Immune Dysregulation Program
• Leukemia and Lymphoma Program
• Liver Tumor Program
  
• Neuroblastoma Program
• Precision Medicine Program
• Psychology Program
• Retinoblastoma Program
• Solid Tumor Program
• Wilms/Kidney Tumor Program

We offer a full range of treatment options for kids and young adults with cancer. Treatment for pediatric cancer depends on the type of cancer. We will create a treatment plan just for your child, as approaches to treatment can vary. Our team works closely with each family to determine the best course of action. Treatment options may include:

• Blood and marrow transplant (BMT): A procedure that helps rescue blood stem cells after chemotherapy
• Chemotherapy (chemo): A group of medicines that kill or damage cancer cells
• Developmental therapeutics: Leverages clinical research to develop new and innovative treatments for children and young adults with relapsed or difficult-to-treat cancer and blood disorders
• Immunohematology and immune dysregulation: Provides comprehensive immune system and genetic evaluations that lead to targeted and individualized therapies
• MIBG therapy: One of the most effective treatments for children with relapsed neuroblastoma at one of the only centers in the Southeast offering this treatment
• Precision medicine: Leverages genomic sequencing for pediatric patients with high-risk tumors, with the goal of identifying alterations that can impact therapies and improve outcomes
• Proton therapy: An extremely precise form of radiation that limits radiation exposure to healthy, growing tissue and organs, reducing damage to children whose bodies are still developing
• Radiation therapy: Uses high-energy rays to kill or damage cancer cells
• Rotationplasty (for bone tumors): A portion of a limb is removed, while the remaining portion of the limb is rotated and reattached (typically, the child’s ankle joint becomes his knee joint)
• Surgery: A procedure to remove as many of the cancerous cells as possible

The Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center is committed to excellence and innovation in pediatric research. As Georgia’s top pediatric cancer and blood disorders research center, we are home to one of the largest clinical trial programs in the country, offering our patients access to some of the most novel childhood cancer and blood disorders treatments available.

View our open research studies:

• Brain Tumors
• Bone Marrow Transplant
• Developmental Therapeutics
• Leukemia and Lymphoma
• Solid Tumors
• Survivorship

Receiving a cancer diagnosis for your child can be an emotional and overwhelming experience. At the Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, we are here to support you and your family. Whether treating a toddler during an emergency or helping a teen through chemotherapy treatments, we make it our mission to provide the best care—and best experience—for every child. Family is a big part of your child’s well-being. Not only are you a vital member of the healthcare team; you are a source of security and comfort.