pediatric hematology & oncology

Dayton-area families receive world-class care for a child with cancer right here at Dayton Children’s. We are a member of the Children’s Oncology Group, which ensures your child receives access to the same best protocols and clinical trials that they would have at other leading children’s hospitals. 

Experienced pediatric hematologists/oncologists lead our multidisciplinary team, which includes nurses, a nurse practitioner, a child life specialist and a social worker. The team goes above and beyond every day to make sure that kids receive great care that is personalized to their unique needs.

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Tumors of the brain and spine are highly specialized and require a different approach to care. Dayton Children’s collaborates with the Children’s Oncology Group, an international organization that specializes in the treatment of children’s cancer. This partnership gives you access to the most up-to-date research and treatment plans while receiving care close to home.

Children who are diagnosed with these tumors are at higher risk for behavior changes, learning difficulties, fertility issues and/or endocrine changes as a result of the tumor and treatment. We know this is a very stressful time for your family. We are here to help you both during and after your treatment.

The vascular anomalies clinic at Dayton Children’s Hospital is comprised of specialists from hematology/oncology, ENT, plastic surgery, pediatric surgery and interventional radiology.

Our comprehensive team has expertise in the diagnosis, management and treatment of vascular anomalies, including hemangiomas and vascular tumors.

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Dayton Children’s was one of the first hospitals in the country to offer a long-term follow-up program for children who have survived pediatric cancer. This program is available to patients and their families from the time they complete therapy through adulthood. In the last eight years, the number of former cancer patients served by the program has more than doubled to nearly 250, a reflection of our high cure rates.

Patients start participating in the long-term follow-up program approximately five years after finishing therapy. We encourage them to continue coming for the rest of their lives, since some late effects of cancer treatment can show up well into adulthood. We welcome all pediatric cancer survivors, regardless of where they were treated for cancer.

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Being told that your child has cancer is devastating to both the child and the family. Often, first thoughts are about treatment, which may include surgery, chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy. Although it may not be your first thought, an important part of treatment includes fertility preservation. Preserving your child’s fertility provides hope for their future. It allows them to one day have the family they’ve always wanted. We understand that fertility is very important for their quality of life in the years to come.

Even though the number of cancer cases grows each year, the number of survivors is also rising. There is a survival rate of over 80 percent in the pediatric and adolescent population.

At Dayton Children’s, we understand how important it is not only to plan the best treatment options with the highest quality care for your child, but also to plan for their future. Dayton Children’s Oncology department has collaborated with SpringCreek Fertility to provide reproductive and fertility options. We also have resources to help with the costs of preservation procedures. Currently, there are options in place for both males and females who have reached puberty. We are actively working to provide these services to younger children soon.

We are currently able to offer:

• Embryo cryopreservation
• Oocyte cryopreservation
• Lupron injections
• Sperm cryopreservation

If you have questions related to fertility, please call 937-641-3111 and ask for our fertility nurse coordinators

Dayton Children’s provides exceptional care for children with sickle cell disease, hemophilia and other blood disorders. Our pediatric hematologists/oncologists, nurses, social workers and other care professionals treat about 350 children each year, and provide strong support for families to help them manage their child’s condition at home.

One of the greatest strengths of our program is the personal relationships that develop between our team and the families we serve. We consider it a privilege to care for children for many years, watching them grow up and learn how to manage their condition effectively.

Some of the conditions we treat:

• Sickle cell disease
• Thalassemias
• Hemophilia
• Von Willebrand disease
• Platelet disorders
• Thrombophilia

Dayton Children’s is the only facility in the Dayton area to provide comprehensive care for infants, children and teens with sickle cell disease, sickle cell trait, thalassemias and other hemoglobin variants. Our program is called the West Central Ohio Comprehensive Sickle Cell Center, one of six that is funded by the Ohio Department of Health to provide care for children with sickle cell disease and support for their families.

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The Hemostasis and Thrombosis Center (HTC) is a federally funded organization that specializes in the treatment of patients with both bleeding and clotting disorders. We are one of the 130 centers in the national network. We use a comprehensive care model. This means a multidisciplinary team of experts will work together to provide you and your family with the best care. This could include dietitians, social workers, and physical therapists. We will bring together the right team based on your child’s specific needs.  

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Hearing that your child needs a blood or marrow transplant can be scary and overwhelming. We want to make the next step as stress-free as possible. That’s why we have partnered with Nationwide Children’s Hospital for a one program, two campus approach to blood and marrow transplants.

together, we’re stronger

Nationwide Children’s is ranked one of the top ten children’s hospitals for treating childhood cancer according to U.S. News and World Report. It is only about an hour away and, the best part, all your care will return close to home at Dayton Children’s once the transplant procedure and recovery are complete.

We work closely together with Nationwide Children’s to create a personalized transplant plan, specific to each child. Your Dayton Children’s care team will guide and support you every step of the way. This includes attending your first meeting at Nationwide Children’s and consistently tracking your progress. It’s the best of both worlds: Your child continues to receive compassionate, familiar care from their team at Dayton Children’s, and will receive expert, personalized transplant care at Nationwide Children’s.

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Sixty years ago, children diagnosed with leukemia had only a slim chance of survival. Today, the survival rate for childhood leukemia is 96-98 percent. Forty years ago, the average lifespan for people with sickle cell disease was only 14 years. Today, life expectancy for these patients can reach 50 years and beyond. What accounts for these dramatic improvements? To a large extent, the answer is clinical research.

Clinical research studies, or “trials,” are designed to help scientists evaluate specific treatment plans. These trials are sponsored by different hospitals, companies and government agencies, and made available to patients who fit certain criteria. At Dayton Children’s, we strongly encourage families to consider participating in clinical research for childhood cancers and blood disorders. We know that the therapies children receive through these studies may benefit them today, and countless children in years to come.

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When patients need to be hospitalized, they are admitted to the hematology/oncology unit on the hospital’s fourth floor. This unit provides specialized care for patients who are experiencing difficult-to-control pain, those who need a transfusion and those who are ill and need round-the-clock care.

Every day during “morning rounds,” one of our pediatric hematologists/oncologists will come to the patient’s room with resident physicians, the charge nurse, other nurses and a nurse practitioner. The team will go over any test results, talk about what will happen on the day ahead and answer any questions families may have.

During their hospital stay, patients receive comprehensive care from our doctors and nurses. They also may interact with a:

• Psychologist
• Registered dietitian
• Social worker
• Child life specialist
• Chaplain

Volunteers often come by to spend time with children and play games. Family members are always welcome to take a break in the family lounge, which features a large-screen television, a kitchenette and comfortable chairs. All hospital guests can take advantage of the hospital’s free wi-fi.

Discharge planning begins almost as soon as the child is admitted to the hospital. Our goal is to make sure families have everything they need when the child goes home, such as prescriptions, home care services and follow-up clinic appointments. If questions arise after the child is discharged, parents can call the clinic during regular hours. After hours, they can call the hospital operator and ask for the hematologist/oncologist on call.

Children’s Home Care of Dayton Care and Comfort program offers palliative care services to children with life-limiting and terminal illnesses. The staff of the Children’s Care and Comfort program understands the needs of children with life-threatening illnesses and the needs of their families. It is our goal to provide family-centered care that respects the dignity and uniqueness of every child and family.

Our comprehensive services make it possible for families to care for their seriously ill child at home. These include:

• Nurses with pediatric expertise on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week
• Infusion therapies
• Pain management
• In-home blood transfusions
• Intensive family support
• Interdisciplinary team case management
• Coordinator and advocacy with community resources
• A family support specialist is available to provide individualized services, including:
  • Emotional support
  • Parent education
  • Sibling support
  • Short-term family intervention
  • Referrals and resources
  • Bereavement support

Dayton Children’s pain management program manages a child’s pain during common medical procedures like IV insertions and blood draws, which are among the most frequently reported painful events in hospitalized children. No child should suffer when his or her pain can be decreased or relieved.