Diagnosis

The first step in effective treatment of pediatric cancer is to accurately diagnose the disease. At the Rush University Cancer Center, physicians use the most advanced methods of imaging, biopsy and analysis to determine each patient's condition.

There can be a great deal of uncertainty and desire for more information when you or a loved one is diagnosed with cancer. Seeking a second opinion provides patients and their families with more information about the cancer and all available treatment options. For more information about a second opinion, visit Rush's Seeking a Second Opinion page or call us at (888) 352-RUSH (7874).

Treatment

Rush is a nationally recognized leader in diagnosing and successfully treating all types of blood, bone and soft tissue cancers, including leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin's disease and germ cell tumor.

At Rush, a multidisciplinary team of expert physicians works together to develop and implement an individualized treatment plan for each patient. This team may include expert physicians in the fields of orthopedic oncology (bone cancer), pediatric surgery, bone marrow transplant and radiation oncology. The team may also include research nurses, nurse practitioners, a psychologist, physical therapist, social worker and an art therapist. Team members meet with the patient and the patient's family prior to beginning treatment and reviews in detail the procedures that are going to take place and what the patient can expect.

The Pediatric Blood Disorders and Cancer Center at Rush provides the most advanced treatments available, including the most technologically sophisticated surgeries and the latest forms of chemotherapy.

Rush has the only bone marrow transplant program in Illinois certified by the National Marrow Donor Program to perform transplantation using stem cells from unrelated donors. Rush also performs peripheral blood and umbilical cord stem cell transplant for a variety of malignant and nonmalignant disorders.

In collaboration with Rush's Bone Marrow Treatment Program, the center also provides care for children and adolescents receiving high-dose radiation therapy and stem cell transplantation.

In addition, the center provides the following specialized services:

• Bone and Soft Tissue Tumor Program and Leukemia and Lymphoma Disease Program: These programs provide diagnostic, consultative services and disease management for the entire spectrum of solid tumors, leukemia and lymphoma.
• Hemophilia and Thrombophilia Center: This federally funded center offers comprehensive treatment for children and adults with hemophilia, von Willebrand disease and other bleeding disorders, as well as a wide range of clotting disorders.
• Sickle Cell Disease Program: This program provides care for children with sickle cell disease and thallasemias.

Clinical Trials

Patients at Rush also have the opportunity to participate in clinical trials of promising new cancer treatments. Physicians at Rush belong to the Children's Oncology Group, a National Cancer Institute-supported clinical trials cooperative group devoted exclusively to childhood and adolescent cancer research. The research includes studies involving patients with a variety of cancers, including Ewing sarcoma, Hodgkin's disease, leukemia, Wilms tumor, medulloblastoma, neuroblastoma and lymphoma. Find out more about current clinical trials at Rush.