Hematology & Oncology

Even though pediatric cancer may still be relatively rare, it’s very real to the thousands of children and families affected each year. For Kentucky’s children and families, we offer a full spectrum of pediatric oncology and pediatric neuro-oncology treatment options provided by a multidisciplinary team including pediatric oncologists.

The types of cancer most common in children are different than those in adults and include both blood-based cancers and solid tumor cancers. We provide diagnosis and treatment for all types of cancer including:

• Bone cancer (including osteosarcoma and Ewing sarcoma)
• Brain and spinal cord tumors
• Leukemia
• Lymphoma (including both Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin)
• Neuroblastoma
• Retinoblastoma
• Rhabdomyosarcoma
• Wilms tumor
• Pediatric oncology treatment options will vary depending on the patient’s type of cancer and other individual health needs, but may include chemotherapy, radiation therapy, immunotherapy, surgery or a combination of options.

Blood disorders may be less well known than cancer, but they’re actually fairly common. Many children across the United States are affected by some type of blood disorder, including anemias, platelet problems, bleeding and clotting.

Conditions affecting the blood are treated by a specialty called hematology, provided by doctors called hematologists. If your child is experiencing a blood disorder or symptoms that may be indicative of one, our hematology team offers a full spectrum of diagnostic and treatment options.

This includes the diagnosis and treatment of blood disorders and malignancies, including:

• Anemias, including sickle cell disease, hereditary spherocytosis and thalassemia
• Bleeding disorders, including hemophilia and von Willebrand disease
• Bone Marrow Failure
• Low white blood cell count and neutropenia
• Thrombocytopenia (low platelets, including idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura)
• Vascular malformations

Children who have blood disorders can receive comprehensive care from our team of hematologists, nurses, pharmacists and social workers, giving your child a full-spectrum approach to treating blood disorders.

For patients who have hemophilia or other congenital bleeding disorders, treatment and other services are provided through the UK HealthCare Hemophilia Treatment Center.

Hematology services may include treatment related to all components related to the blood, including red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets, blood vessels, bone marrow, lymph nodes, spleen and the proteins involved in bleeding and clotting.

Our hematology and oncology experts have years of expertise and experience, and they are highly recognized in the field. Our oncologists actively participate in treatment protocols of the Children’s Oncology Group, the national pediatric clinical oncology cooperative group sponsored by the National Cancer Institute.

While a child is undergoing treatment for a blood disorder or cancer, every aspect of life is affected. We provide services and assistance to help families cope, including our PAWS (Providing Assistance With Schools) Program, which serves as an educational liaison between the school, the family and the medical team.

For children who may have a predisposition to developing a type of inherited cancer, we offer a Cancer Predisposition Clinic specially designed to meet their needs.

Adolescents and young adults face unique challenges when diagnosed with cancer. In many cases, cancer in a young adult behaves more similarly to that in a child rather than an adult cancer. Recognizing this, our UK Adolescent and Young Adult Oncology Program combines the services of our pediatric oncologists with those of the Markey Cancer Center, providing care for cancer in those ages 15 to 29.

Because we recognize that care for pediatric cancer doesn’t end with the last treatment session, our services don’t end there, either. We offer a Long-Term Follow-Up Clinic to monitor children for signs of recurrence, as well as any lingering negative effects from treatment. We’re here for you from start to finish of your child’s medical journey.

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