Pediatric and Adolescent Cancer &
Blood Diseases
As you consider referral options for your patient families, know that our Children’s Hospital team of specialists, combined with the resources of the renowned Cleveland Clinic Taussig Cancer Institute, cares for patients with a variety of serious childhood diseases. Specifically, these include leukemia/lymphoma, brain tumors, musculoskeletal and soft tissue tumors, tumors of the kidney and liver, tumors of the eye, rare tumors, Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis as well as a host of blood disorders, including hemophilia, sickle cell anemia, and common and rare anemias. While we tend to the serious medical issues with which an ill child or teenager is faced, the spirit of family-centered care guides our Children’s Hospital team from the start.
Medical Work, Medical Play
The primary care team includes pediatric oncology/hematology physicians, nurses, surgeons and radiotherapists. To meet all the needs of our patients, the multidisciplinary team incorporates social workers, psychologists, child life specialists and art therapists who help children understand and comply with medical and surgical procedures through play, art and other expressive activities. In conjunction with the Center for Pediatric Behavioral Health and the Department of Social Work at Cleveland Clinic Children’s Hospital, our department also offers the unique Sibling Outreach Program for the siblings of pediatric cancer patients. The program was started with a generous grant from Bear Necessities, a pediatric cancer foundation. The Sibling Outreach Program will bring together the brothers and sisters of cancer patients being treated at Children’s Hospital and provide a forum for socialization, education, discussion and support.
Designed to inspire comfort and peace of mind, the newly renovated floor of the Department of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology is genuinely inviting. The space includes 14 treatment rooms equipped with plenty of activities for kids and parents, a conference room and a patient and family library. The space also includes a separate teen waiting area, and there is a new Ronald McDonald Family Room on the inpatient available for families while a loved one is receiving treatment.
Cancer Care
Childhood cancer is one of medicine's true success stories; there has never been a more exciting time in pediatric oncology. State-of-the-art diagnostic and therapeutic capabilities allow us to treat cancers that only a short time ago were considered untreatable. To that point, ongoing research by our specialists is leading to discoveries which have or may soon enter the clinical setting for our patients and other children suffering from cancers. Additionally, our participation in the Children's Oncology Group and other clinical trials gives pediatric oncology patients access to more than 100 national trials at any given time. Visit the Children's Oncology Group site.
And know that Children's Hospital has Pediatric surgical specialists who are experts in performing state of the art cancer operations including: General Pediatric Surgery, Urology, Neurosurgery, Otolaryngology (ENT), Orthopedics, and Cardiac Surgery.
The Cancer Care Program at Children's Hospital is organized around making sure that each child is given the best possible chance to lead a normal, healthy childhood and life.For our cancer patients, our goals include minimizing pain and suffering, with a focus on keeping life as normal as possible. For their siblings, we offer special attention and reassurance. We help frightened parents make complex decisions and gain confidence in moving forward. And we work with referring physicians in initial and ongoing care. We also have a comprehensive long-term follow-up clinic that sends survivors and families into the world with a working knowledge of their health care issues.
Ortho articles from past issues of Pediatric Perspectives (PDFS):
Meet our Pediatric Hematology Oncology Staff:
- L. Kate Gowans, MD
- Eric Kodish, MD
- Michael G. Levien, MD
- Tanya Tekautz, MD
- Margaret C. Thompson, MD, PhD
- Holly Clark, PNP
- Denise A. Davis, PNP
- Holly Kubarney, PNP
- Tara Malbasa, PNP
