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Hematology/Oncology & BMT

Nationwide Children’s Hospital is consistently ranked as one of the top children’s cancer hospitals in the country based on reputation, quality of care, research, and patient volume. The program is a member of The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center (a National Institutes of Health Comprehensive Cancer Center).

The Biopathology Center at Nationwide Children’s Hospital is funded by the National Cancer Institute. It serves as the repository for cancer samples from more than 500 hospitals. Specimens from this center are used for cancer research institutions worldwide. The Biopathology Center houses one of the largest biobanks in the country, and performs testing for all children throughout the nation who have acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL), neuroblastoma, Wilms tumor and specific soft tissue sarcomas.

Pediatric Tumors and Cancers Treated at the Clinic

The National Institutes of Health states that approximately 10,730 new cases of pediatric cancer were diagnosed in children, adolescents and adults in 2009. Although the incidence of invasive cancer in children has increased slightly over the last 30 years, mortality rates have declined by 50 percent for many childhood cancers.

Estimated new cases and deaths from cancer in the United States in 2010:

• New cases: 1,529,560 (does not include nonmelanoma skin cancers)
• Deaths: 569,490
• Cancer remains the number 2 cause of death of Americans, topped only by heart disease
• Cancer is the leading cause of death by disease among U.S. children between infancy and age 15
• Adolescents and young adults are much more likely to be diagnosed with cancer than children under the age of 15. Each year more than 72,000 adolescents and young adults are diagnosed with cancer in the United States

Some examples of (but not limited to) tumors we can see in the clinic:

• Neuroblastoma
• Wilms’ tumors
• Hepatoblastoma
• Rhabdomyosarcoma
• Germ cell tumors
• Ovarian tumors
• Sarcoma
• Pancreatic tumors
• Melanoma
• Spitz Nevus

Initial Consultations

The Surgical Oncology Clinic at Nationwide Children’s Hospital offers a comprehensive and multi-disciplinary treatment approach for children with cancer.During the initial consultation, patients are evaluated by an oncologist and other specialists as needed in one setting during a single appointment. During this visit, the attending oncologist and surgeon will formulate a treatment plan which will be carefully reviewed with the family. The entire physician team is involved from the beginning for staging through treatment and into long-term care. This team improves communication and minimizes confusion which eases stress on families who rely on direct, consistent information from physicians.

Patient care will be coordinated through a nurse oncologist. During the first visit, the patient will immediately be seen by an oncologist and surgeon, followed by other specialists who, as a team, will formulate a treatment and/or surgical plan in advance of admitting the patient to the hospital. The clinic welcomes new referrals, post-operative follow-ups and long-term follow-ups.

The Clinic Team

The clinic has two nurse clinicians on staff who facilitate appointments and the care of the patient during outpatient visits and inpatient hospital stays. Meet our team