No parent ever wants to imagine their child receiving a diagnosis of cancer. But if this occurs, you can feel secure knowing that the health team at Riley Children's Health treats your whole child, not just his or her condition.
If your family faces the condition of pediatric cancer or blood disorders, you will be surrounded and supported by a team that includes you in the treatment decisions for your child. Our team will provide the in-depth information you need and a treatment plan that is right for your family.
Cancer and blood disorders may affect your child for a short time or for his or her entire life. Our team will be there to help your child and family cope with the impact of these disorders.
The Pediatric Cancer & Blood Disorders department at Riley Children's works hand-in-hand with a large team of doctors and support staff from a variety of specialties to provide every possible treatment option available. Your child's care plan may involve treatment or therapy that is provided by specialists from the following Riley Children's departments:
- Integrative Medicine & Palliative Care
- Neurology
- Neurosurgery
- Pain Management
- Physical Therapy & Rehabilitation
- Radiology & Imaging
The team at Riley Children's cares about your child, and they also care about future children who will be affected by cancer and blood disorders. That is why the physician-scientists at Riley Children's and Indiana University Health University Hospital focus on research and clinical trials. Riley Children's ranks nationally for cancer care with access to the newest and best treatment options available. Our team treats more than 80 percent of children and adolescents diagnosed with cancer in Indiana.
Our department is affiliated with the IU Health Melvin and Bren Simon Cancer Center. The IU Health Simon Cancer Center is the only National Cancer Institute (NCI)-designated cancer center for clinical care in Indiana. We provide the only pediatric stem cell (bone marrow) transplant program in the state and are members of the Children’s Oncology Group Phase I & Pilot Consortium. This means we receive early access to clinical trials and newly developed cancer treatments and research.
Riley Children's oncologists, nurses and support staff tackle your child’s treatment from all angles. This multidisciplinary approach is what leads to consistent annual ranking of Riley Children's as a top center for pediatric cancer and blood disorder treatment.
Innovative Treatments
Riley Children's is the only pediatric health system in the state of Indiana to offer CAR-T cell therapy for children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL).
Indiana's Only Nationally Ranked Program
The Riley Children's Health pediatric cancer program is nationally ranked in the top 25 by U.S. News & World Report. In addition, we are a Children's Oncology Group Phase I Consortium member-giving your child access to the latest clinical trials.
Conditions & Services
Conditions Treated
Our pediatric specialists provide patient- and family-centered care for most related conditions. The links below provide more specific information about some, but not all, of the conditions that we treat.
- Anemia
- Bone Marrow Failure
- Childhood Brain & Spinal Cord Tumors
- Coagulation Disorders
- Germ Cell Tumors
- Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis (HLH)
- Hemophilia
- Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis
- Leukemia
- Liver Tumors
- Lymphoma
- Neuroblastoma
- Neurofibromatosis in Children
- Osteosarcoma
- Pediatric Ewing Sarcoma
- Retinoblastoma
- Rhabdomyosarcoma
- Sickle Cell Disease
- Vascular Malformations
- Wilms Tumor
Services Offered
We offer a number of different Pediatric Cancer & Blood Disorders services. Below are some, but not all, of the services that we provide. If you have a question about a specific service that is not listed here, please contact our department.
Doctors and
Locations
Doctors
Many of our doctors, pediatric nurse practitioners and registered nurses have more than 15 years of experience working in the Cancer & Blood Disorders Department at Riley Children's.
Pediatric Cancer & Blood Disorders Locations
Patient & Family Resources
Patient & Family Resources
Below is a list of services provided by Riley Children's to help support your child and family through their cancer care with us. These are just a few of the support services we provide. Learn more about our Patient and Family Support Services.
Resources
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Using a combination of counseling and art interventions, art therapists provide an alternative therapy to address patients and/or family members emotional and mental health needs during their hospital stay at Riley Children's.
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Our Child Life specialists use therapeutic interventions to help children have a normal childhood despite illnesses and hospitalization.
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Using music, our therapists create a safe environment where patients and families can share their thoughts and feelings.
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Our nutrition team will work with you and your child to make sure you have the tools you need to make sound dietary choices and manage your child’s condition at home.
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Regular visits from therapy animals can help your child deal with the stresses of illness and treatment.
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If you're coming to Riley Children's for outpatient cancer care, our on-site pharmacy can fill any necessary medications for your child to be picked up before you leave.
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With our school program, your child does not have to miss out on important education while receiving treatment.
Related Programs
Related Programs
The Cancer & Blood Disorders Department at Riley Children's is advancing the treatment of pediatric cancer and blood disorders through the following specialty programs.
Related Stories
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Health Professionals
For Health Professionals
Healthcare professionals can refer patients online, by calling 317.944.2143 / 800.238.8399 (Toll Free), or faxing a referral to 317.944.3107. Referring physicians can count on our specialists at Riley Children’s to treat the most complex cases.
Within our Pediatric Hematology/Oncology department, we have specialized programs, active clinical studies, multiple location options and more to accomplish compelling patient outcomes. View full details.
Refer A Patient
Riley Children's works with referring physicians in Indiana and beyond.
Refer A PatientResearch
Visit the Herman B. Wells Center for Pediatric Research at Indiana University School of Medicine for information about the latest research in the field of cancer and blood disorders.
Education
The Cancer & Blood Disorders Department at Riley Children's works daily to train the next generation of physicians and researchers. Riley Children's is actively affiliated with the Indiana University School of Medicine and the IU Health Simon Cancer Center. Through this affiliation, we offer a pediatric oncology/hematology fellowship. The fellowship program boasts a three-year training format, with two new fellows chosen each year.