Pediatric Hematology/Oncology

Our Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Program at The Children's Hospital at Saint Peter's University Hospital provides diagnosis and treatment for infants, children and adolescents with cancer and disorders of the blood, including sickle cell anemia, thalassemia and bleeding disorders.

Saint Peter’s is the only children’s hospital in central New Jersey selected to partner with ProCure Proton Therapy Center – the only proton center in the New York area – to provide an advanced form of radiation called proton therapy for children with tumors in areas such as the eye, brain and thyroid. This type of treatment uses high-energy radiation to attack cancer cells without affecting healthy cells around them. Higher doses of radiation are associated with better cure rates. Traditional radiation rays target tumors but can injure nearby healthy cells. In the case of a brain tumor, for example, areas of the brain still under develop­ment may suffer damage, including those areas involved in hearing and vision. With traditional radiation, children may also experience more serious short- and long-term side effects such as developmental delays and growth problems or the development of secondary tumors.

 

Saint Peter’s also operates one of the few pediatric vascular clinics in the country where children are treated for vascular abnormalities such as hemangiomas – common, non-cancerous growths or tumors of the skin. Hemangiomas result from an abnormal growth in the lining of blood vessels called endothelial cells. At the Pediatric Multidisciplinary Vascular Clinic children are treated by a team of doctors including a plastic surgeon. Conditions evalu­ated and treated include arterio-venous mal­formations (AVMs) and hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia.

 

The program remains at the fore­front of treatment and research in cancer and blood disorders in children while providing follow-up care for survivors up to the age of 30. Because it has full-member status in the National Cancer Institute's (NCI) Children's Oncology Group, our Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Program is a clinical test site for the NCI's Children's Oncology Group clinical trials. This gives us access to the latest in research, data and information on treatments of childhood cancers from specialists throughout the country.