Comprehensive pediatric oncology care
UM Health-Sparrow's Children's Center, in cooperation with the board-certified pediatric oncologists (cancer specialists for children) at Michigan State University (MSU), provides comprehensive care for children with cancer.
UM Health-Sparrow and MSU belong to the Children's Oncology Group (COG), an international cooperative that designs, implements, and monitors state-of-the art treatment plans and clinical trials. Affiliation with COG provides the medical team with immediate access to additional experts in childhood cancer throughout the United States and several foreign countries.
Types of cancers treated at UM Health-Sparrow Children's Center
- Leukemia (patients less than or equal to 21 years of age)
- Neuroblastoma (patients less than or equal to 18 years of age)
- Wilms Tumor (any age)
- Lymphoma (patients less than 21 years of age)
- Hodgkin's Disease (patients less than 21 years of age)
- Soft Tissue Sarcoma (patients less than 21 years of age)
- Rhabdomyosarcoma (patients less than 21 years of age)
- Ewing's Sarcoma (patients less than or equal to 30 years of age)
- Osteosarcoma (patients less than or equal to 30 years of age)
- Primitive Neuroectodermal Tumor (PNET) (patients less than or equal to 30 years of age)
- Hepatoblastoma/Hepatocellular Carcinoma (patients less than 21 years of age)
- Germ Cell Tumor (patients less than or equal to 21 years of age)
- Brain Tumor (ependymoma, medulloblastoma, astrocytoma, PNET, or glioma) (patients less than 26 years of age)
Your cancer team includes
- Board-certified pediatric oncologists from MSU
- Pediatric surgeon
- Pediatric radiologist
- Pediatric subspecialists including cardiology, renal, pulmonary, gastroenterology, pain management, and infectious disease
- Nurse practitioner who is masters-prepared with national certification in pediatric oncology
- Registered nurses with special training in chemotherapy
- Child life specialists
- Registered Dietitians
- Social workers
- Discharge planners
- Chaplains
- Full pediatric rehabilitation team
- Experienced nursing associates with years working with children of all ages
A key focus on patient and family
Psychosocial support of the person with cancer and their family is an important part of cancer treatment, especially for children and teenagers. All care providers at University of Michigan Health at UM Health-Sparrow's Children's Center take this support seriously.
At UM Health-Sparrow, you'll find strong emphasis on patient and family education. Parents are encouraged to be a part of the care and overnight sleeping cots are provided so that one parent can always stay with the child. We help manage pain and anxiety, provide special activities to provide distraction, stimulate development, and manage stress. We help you maintain contact with schools, including special classroom and staff presentations, as well as arrange for homebound teachers and special testing when indicated
