Center for Cancer & Blood Disorders

The Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders at Phoenix Children's Hospital is the largest pediatric program of its kind in Arizona, providing complete care for children diagnosed with malignancies and/or life-threatening hematologic diseases.

Using a family-centered approach, the Center provides comprehensive, personalized care to every hematology and oncology patient. Every child has his or her own team of physicians, nurses, social workers, physical therapists, nutritionists and more that provide care throughout the treatment and healing process. The team works to make sure that the care regimen fits in with the child's – and the family's – needs.

The Center's team of medical practitioners includes many specialists, each with a specific area of expertise within the hematology and oncology fields. Encouraging each provider to specialize in certain diseases has allowed the Center's team to collectively keep up with the latest advancements in the treatment of cancer and hematologic disorders. As a result, the Center is able to provide top-notch, cutting edge care to all of its patients.

Oncology Program

Phoenix Children's has the largest pediatric cancer program in Arizona and is a leading participant in research to find cures for cancer. The Hospital is a long-standing member of Children's Oncology Group (COG), a national research consortium, and one of three COG members in the state. Phoenix Children's is one of two institutions in Arizona – and the only location in Phoenix – conducting Phase I trials, giving pediatric cancer patients access to the newest treatments available. The Oncology Program is also an active participant in the Pediatric Oncology Experimental Therapeutic Investigator Consortium (POETIC), a Phase I consortium composed of 10 large academic medical centers in the United States and Canada.

Hematology Program

Phoenix Children's Hemophilia Center is the largest program of its kind in Arizona and is making significant difference in the quality of life for pediatric and adult hemophilia patients. It is one of only two federally funded hemophilia treatment programs in the state. The Center treats children with sickle cell disease, hemophilia and other hematologic disorders, and it is a designated center for the treatment and study of Gaucher's disease, an inherited metabolic disorder that can cause multiple medical problems.

Bone Marrow Transplant Program

Phoenix Children's Hospital and Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale recently introduced the Valley's first pediatric blood and marrow transplant (BMT) program. This new program fills a critical gap in area services because, previously, the only pediatric BMT program in the state of Arizona was at University Medical Center in Tucson. This meant that families in the Valley, already struggling with the burden of having a child with cancer, had to face the additional stress and inconvenience of having a child hospitalized in a distant facility for several months.

Neuro-oncology Program

The Phoenix Children's Neuro-oncology Program, treating brain and spinal cord tumors, is the only comprehensive pediatric neuro-oncology program in Arizona. Program providers work closely with a variety of sub-specialists and departments across the Hospital, and the program's highly trained coordinator is recognized as the neuro-oncology nursing expert in the state. The Neuro-Oncology Program treats more than 70 percent of brain tumor patients in Arizona.

Read more about the importance of clinical trials in curing cancer.

Read more about how the Hospital's psychosocial programs help in healing.