While a diagnosis of cancer is always unfortunate news, there is good news when it comes to survival rates and promising treatments for children. There are advances in treatment that help ensure that children receive optimal care.
Survival rates for many childhood cancers have changed dramatically—from under 20 percent in the 1960s to as high as 75 to 85 percent today. At the same time, the average duration of treatment has decreased for many cancers. It has been only through the process of clinical trials that we’ve been able to make such significant progress. In fact, clinical trials are now the standard of care for children with cancer in the U.S. Approximately 80 percent of younger children and 60 percent of older children who are being treated for cancer are participating in clinical trials.
The Valerie Fund Children’s Center at Stony Brook Children's Hospital for infants through age 21 offers the most up-to-date diagnostics and treatments for children with cancer. It’s led by board-certified pediatric hematologist/oncologists, backed by the full resources of a tertiary care hospital. The same is true for children with serious and chronic blood disorders such as hemophilia, von Willebrand’s disease, sickle cell anemia, platelet disorders and thalassemia
Types of cancer that are diagnosed at The Valerie Fund
Defining Leukemia:
Diagnosing and Treating Children with Lymphoma
Reese Shares his Story (Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia)
Defining Lymphoma
Diagnosing and Treating Children with Myeloma
Defining Myeloma
Diagnosing and Treating Children with Blood Disorders
From CH's web page: https://www.stonybrookchildrens.org/specialties-services/pediatric-specialties/hematology-oncology
The same is true for children with serious and chronic blood disorders such as hemophilia, von Willebrand’s disease, Sickle Cell Anemia, platelet disorders, and thalassemia. Children receive multidisciplinary, state-of-the-art treatment in a child and family-centered environment — backed by a full complement of specialists including Child Life, Emergency Department, Social Work, Surgery, and any additional specialties that the individual child may need.
Defining Blood Disorders
Learn more about how clinical trials are used for treating childhood cancers.
Ask the Expert: Childhood Cancers: The Things That Make a Difference
by Laura Hogan, MD, Division Chief, Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Stony Brook Cancer Center